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As the 2024/25 club season concludes, several Liverpool players will face a demanding international calendar that threatens to significantly reduce their summer rest and exacerbate fixture congestion for next season’s title defence.

The UEFA Nations League Finals set for June 4–8 Germany will see Ibrahima Konate’s France take on Spain while Diogo Jota will be involved with Portugal’s clash against Germany.

Meanwhile, all four of Liverpool’s South American contingent in Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez, Alisson Becker, and Luis Diaz will be involved in regional World Cup qualifiers, with some that go until the 11th of June.

It’s hardly an ideal scenario for players who need well-earned time off to rest their bodies from 9 months of club action at the highest level.

But one Liverpool man who will no doubt be excited for national team duty is Rio Ngumoha.

Ngumoha has officially been called up for England’s 21-man squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship in Albania this summer.

The 16-year-old forward, who joined Liverpool from Chelsea in September 2024 after a protracted transfer process involving a five-stage Premier League review, will feature in Group B matches against Belgium (May 20), Italy (May 23), and Czechia (May 26).

Ngumoha’s inclusion follows an impressive debut season at Anfield that saw him become Liverpool’s youngest-ever FA Cup starter (16 years, 135 days) in January 2025 and contribute 2 goals and 2 assists in 9 Premier League 2 appearances.

His explosive pace and technical flair, honed during nine years in Manchester City’s and Chelsea’s academies, have drawn comparisons to former Liverpool winger Raheem Sterling

The tournament, hosted across four Albanian venues including Tirana’s Arena Kombëtare, features eight nations split into two groups, with semi-finals on May 29 and the final on June 14.

England, seeking their first title since 2014, face stiff competition from holders Italy and a heavily-touted Belgium side.

For Ngumoha, the tournament offers a platform to build on his 9 England U17 caps and push for a regular role in Liverpool’s first-team setup next season.

He is highly rated by Anfield staff, with Arne Slot even including him in Liverpool’s Champions League knock-out squad in January.

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