Liverpool trio confirmed to return late to pre-season after World Cup progression
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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesLiverpool FCAll eight of the Liverpool players who were called up to play in the World Cup will be involved in the knockout stages after the Netherlands confirmed its progressionVirgil van Dijk and the Netherlands are into the World Cup's last 32(Image: 2026 Fernando Leon/ISI Photos)The Netherlands' progression to the last 32 of the World Cup means that Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch will not return to Liverpool for pre-season until late July at the earliest.Ronald Koeman's side was on four points after the first two games, effectively sealing its place in the knockout stage of the World Cup, but the 3-1 win over Tunisia guaranteed it.The Netherlands are next in action on June 30 at 2am BST (June 29 at 9pm ET/6pm PT), when it faces Morocco in the last 32.That will be a tricky test for Van Dijk and his compatriots, as Morocco also finished the group stage with seven points, having only finished behind Brazil in Group C on goal difference.If the Netherlands loses to Morocco, Van Dijk, Gravenberch and Gakpo would then go off on vacation and be unlikely to link up with the teammates until midway through the club's pre-season tour of the United States.Liverpool's players who were not called up to play for their countries in the World Cup are due back for the start of pre-season training at the AXA Training Center around Monday, July 13.Only eight Liverpool players were actually called up to play at the World Cup, owing to the Reds' poor season as well as some of the nations that Liverpool's players play for not qualifying for the World Cup.Florian Wirtz will be involved in the last 32 with Germany(Image: CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)It is worth noting that that figure does not include Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konate or Mohamed Salah, all of whom left Liverpool at the end of the season.By contrast, Premier League rival Manchester City has the most players of any club in the world competing at the tournament, with 19 players called up for international duty.The eight Liverpool players at the tournament will all be involved in the knockout stage.Japan (Wataru Endo), Argentina (Alexis Mac Allister), Brazil (Alisson), Sweden (Alexander Isak) and Germany (Florian Wirtz) have all made it through to the last 32.Liverpool's first pre-season game takes place against Sunderland in Nashville on July 25.Andoni Iraola is likely to be without several senior players for that assignment as they enjoy vacations off the back of the World Cup.That will also be the case for Sunderland, which has nine players participating at the tournament.Choose Liverpool.com as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCFIFA World Cup