Set to take place across France between June 10 and July 10, Euro 2016 provides a tantalising bookend to the 2015/16 season — a campaign that has represented a long slog for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.
France, Germany, Belgium and Spain are among the favourites to win this summer’s tournament, while Roy Hodgson’s England side can hold a faint hope of their first international success since 1966.
Five Liverpool players have been included in Hodgson’s initial 26-man squad for warm-up fixtures, set to be cut down to 23 by the May 31, with seven of their team-mates also involved.
So which of Klopp’s Reds are poised to take part in this summer’s Euros?
Hodgson named a strong Three Lions side including some excellent attacking talents in Dele Alli and Harry Kane, and they are joined by Nathaniel Clyne, James Milner, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana and Daniel Sturridge from the Merseyside outfit.
Meanwhile, also competing in England’s group this summer are Wales, with Chris Coleman having called up both 22-year-old goalkeeper Danny Ward and technically gifted midfielder Joe Allen.
They will also take on long-serving centre-back Martin Skrtel in the initial stages, with the 31-year-old set to captain Slovakia in their efforts to break through to the knockout phase. Skrtel may have played his last game for Liverpool, with the former Zenit St. Petersburg defender likely to leave the club this summer, but he remains a key player for Slovakia manager Jan Kozak.
Joachim Low named a 27-man provisional squad for Germany’s warm-up fixtures against Slovakia and Hungary, including promising midfielder Emre Can. Can is likely to line up in Low’s back line at the Euros, though he is at his best in the middle of the park.
Elsewhere, Belgium manager Marc Wilmots has called upon three of Klopp’s first-team players in Simon Mignolet, Divock Origi and Christian Benteke. With none guaranteed a starting role, Origi is perhaps most likely to start, given his progress under Klopp this season.
Among those unfortunate to miss out are Hungary’s Adam Bogdan, Croatia centre-back Dejan Lovren and Italian striker Mario Balotelli, while Mamadou Sakho’s suspension leaves him out of contention for France.
Klopp may have further Euro 2016 international in his squad by the time the tournament kicks off, with heavily linked stars Piotr Zielinski (Poland), Jonas Hector and Mario Gotze (both Germany) all included.
Liverpool’s 12 players makes them one of the most highly represented clubs at the Euros, and Klopp will be hoping some of his players can return for pre-season buoyed by international glory.
