Gareth Southgate will have less than FIVE days to work with Liverpool players before Nations League semi… and it could get worse for England boss if Tottenham join Jurgen Klopp’s side in the Champions League final
- Liverpool reached the Champions League final by beating Barcelona on Tuesday
- The Champions League final is five days before England play Holland in Portugal
- England boss Gareth Southgate won’t have long to work with stars before game
- If Spurs join Liverpool in the final, Southgate’s squad will be even more affected
England’s hopes of winning a first major tournament since 1966 could be damaged by the success of Premier League teams in Europe.
The Three Lions go to Portugal this summer for the UEFA Nations League finals, where they will take on Holland in the semis.
And the date of their semi is Thursday, June 6, which is just five days after the Champions League final on June 1.
Gareth Southgate will not get to work with all of his England players for very long this summer
Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final by thrashing Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Therefore, England boss Gareth Southgate will not be able to work with Reds players like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain until just before his side’s semi-final with Holland.
Southgate’s preparations could be further damaged if Tottenham beat Ajax on Wednesday to join Liverpool in the final in Madrid.
Tottenham are expected to provide a strong contingent of players to Southgate’s squad, with the likes of Danny Rose, Kieran Trippier, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Harry Winks and Harry Kane all in contention to make the party if they are fit.
If Spurs fail to get past Ajax on Wednesday, their last game of the season will be at home to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday, May 12.
Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson (left) and Trent Alexander-Arnold are set to play in the UCL final
England captain Kane has not played for Spurs since he sustained a ‘significant lateral ligament injury to his left ankle’ in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Manchester City four weeks ago.
Kane joined his team-mates in Amsterdam this week but he is not expected to play another club game this season unless Tottenham reach the Champions League final.
If England beat Holland in Guimaraes, they will go to Porto for the inaugural Nations League final on June 9 where either Switzerland or hosts Portugal will provide the opposition.
It is not just England who will have multiple star men in the Champions League final. Holland will be represented in Madrid by Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum, while Ajax’s Dutch quartet of Matthijs de Ligt, Daley Blind, Donny van de Beek and Frenkie de Jong could also be involved.
Kieran Trippier (left) and Dele Alli could also play in the final if Tottenham beat Ajax on Tuesday