Darwin Nunez continued his blistering form for Uruguay as the Liverpool star enters their Manchester City preparations in red-hot form.
Harvey Elliott played a starring role on Merseyside at Goodison Park to keep Lee Carsley’s side applying pressure on Ukraine under-21s.
It was two more to the tally for the Reds and La Celeste number nine with Marcelo Bielsa continuing to get the best out of the forward. They moved second in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualification section, just one point clear of Colombia and three behind reigning world champions, Argentina.
Nunez added to his international account with a well-taken volley before adding a second in the second-half. For the Uruguayan opener, Manchester United’s Facundo Pellistri burst down the right and cut back to Nunez, who volleyed home.
Gabriel Villamil inadvertently doubled Uruguay’s lead six minutes before half-time and 19 minutes from time, Nunez ghosted into the six-yard box to head in his second of the night.
Just two minutes later, the Liverpool striker was replaced by a Reds icon as Luis Suarez was introduced in his place.
Alisson Becker & Alexis Mac Allister
Remaining in South America, it was the second defeat of the international break for Alisson Becker’s Brazil. As was the case six days ago, the Reds shot-stopper was on the wrong end of a result against one of his teammates.
This time it was Alexis Mac Allister who came out on top in an ill-tempered clash between the two giants of South American football.
Nicolas Otamendi headed in the only goal of the game, leaving the Liverpool goalkeeper with no chance. Brazil’s evening got worse late on when Newcastle United midfielder Joelinton was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Rodrigo De Paul of Atletico Madrid.
Mac Allister played the entirety of the showdown, after he was sacrificed at half-time in their defeat to Uruguay, last time out.
Luis Diaz
Luis Diaz managed 81 minutes as Colombia ended 2023 strongly. Rafael Santos Borre’s penalty was the only thing that separated the Colombians from Paraguay to send Nestor Lorenzo’s side three points clear of Venezuela after six games.
Harvey Elliott & Tyler Morton
It was the Liverpool show at Goodison Park as Elliott and Tyler Morton were on the scoresheet against Northern Ireland under-21s. England struggled to break down their British rivals but it was Morton, who is enjoying a loan spell with Hull City, that opened the scoring.
Northern Ireland could only partially clear an attack, the Wirral-born midfielder chested the clearance down before arrowing a right-footed effort into the the back of the net.
Elliott continued to emphasise his importance to the Young Lions with his double. The 21-year-old got his first of the night with a superb long-range volley before he combined with Morton, doubling his tally with a sumptuous lob.
Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo started for Japan in their emphatic 5-0 away win against Syria.
The Blue Samurai made it two wins in two in the AFC qualification sector for the 2026 World Cup, extending their formidable run of form, which dates back to March 28, to eight matches with scalps over Germany and Turkey among them.
Virgil van Dijk & Cody Gakpo
Liverpool’s Holland contingent included Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, while Ryan Gravenberch remains on Merseyside battling to return from a knee injury.
Ronald Koeman’s side booked their place in the upcoming European Championships in Germany thanks to their win over Ireland on Friday, resulting in their encounter with Gibraltar being a dead rubber.
The Gibraltans entered the clash bruised after France’s record 14-0 win last week, unfortunately, there was no let-up for the minnows as Holland fired six unanswered goals against the nation ranked 198 by FIFA.
Cody Gakpo was introduced 13 minutes from time and took just four minutes to add to his international goals tally, meanwhile Van Dijk lasted just 45 minutes after continuing his place in the starting line-up.
Caoimhin Kelleher
Caoimhin Kelleher was handed a rare Republic of Ireland start in their 1-1 draw with New Zealand. The Liverpool shot-stopper was handed 45 minutes by Stephen Kenny, although the silver-lining for Kelleher may be that it was a clean sheet for his cameo with Matthew Garbett firing past Mark Travers to equalise midway through the second-half.
Kostas Tsimikas
A European Championships qualification playoff looms for Greece. However, there was no room for Kostas Tsimikas in their 2-2 draw with group winners France.
The Liverpool defender has been walking a suspension tight-rope after accumulating two yellow cards, with suggestions that he was rested with the view of featuring in their playoff in March.
Ben Doak
Ben Doak started for Scotland under-21s but was left disappointed as squandered a late penalty, as they missed the chance to keep the pressure on Spain in their quest for European Championships qualification.
Doak’s spot-kick meant that they endured a goalless draw away in Hungary but moved above Belgium’s under-21s on goal difference.
