Liverpool international round-up: Hugo Ekitike makes debut as Alexander Isak suffers frustration

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Alexander Isak did not return to competitive action on Friday, despite being named in the Sweden squad to face Slovenia.

The Liverpool striker has not played a match in nearly three and a half months, prompting comments from head coach Jon Dahl Tomasson that he would not rush Isak back too soon or “do stupid things” given his lack of fitness.

The decision from Tomasson not to introduce Isak from the substitutes’ bench as Sweden searched for a late winning goal, perhaps indicates how far off the pace Isak currently is.



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The biggest story was reserved for Hugo Ekitike, who made his France debut in the 2-0 victory over Ukraine.

The Liverpool forward was initially left out of the squad but was called up late following Rayan Cherki’s injury, and he came off the bench for the final nine minutes at the Tarczynski Arena in Poland.

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The left-back played the full 90 minutes and nearly provided a game-changing moment when his excellent cross to Lyndon Dykes just skimmed over the Birmingham City forward’s head.

Greece, which beat Scotland in March’s Nations League playoffs, is in the same group, meaning a reunion between Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas next month.

The defender joined Roma on loan in the final days of the summer window and played 62 minutes in Greece’s 5-1 win over Belarus.

But there was disappointment for Giovanni Leoni on his maiden international call-up

Gennaro Gattuso opted against naming the 18-year-old in Italy’s matchday squad for the game against Estonia.

The 2006 world champions won the match in Bergamo after what has been an unconvincing start to the group.

Jayden Danns was also in action, scoring and captaining England Under-20s in a 2-1 loss to Italy.

Away from Europe, Mohamed Salah scored a first-half penalty on Friday as Egypt beat Ethiopia 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier.

Intriguingly, having already converted from the spot, he allowed Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush to take a second penalty Egypt was awarded a few minutes later, which was duly converted.

Salah played 88 minutes and earned his 104th cap in what could prove to be a huge season on the international stage, with the African Cup of Nations and World Cup both on the horizon.