World Cup 2018: Which Liverpool players will go furthest at the World Cup?

Kris K
Senegal v Bosnia Herzegovina - international friendly match
Mane looking to transfer club form to the World Cup

World Cup 2018 is now just under a week away and as the excitement continues to build, club matters will still be at the back of the fans' minds. Supporters will be keen on observing how their club's players and potential transfer targets perform at the World Cup. Liverpool have no less than eight representatives at the showpiece event.

These Liverpool players will look to get over the disappointment of the Champions League final loss to Real Madrid by winning the big one in Russia. If they win it they will join a select group of Reds to have won the World Cup while playing for Liverpool. These are Roger Hunt, Ian Callaghan, Gerry Byrne with England in 1966 and Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina with Spain in 2010.

Some are better placed to go all the way as part of the pre-tournament favourites but for some, making it out of the group will take some doing. We take a look at which Reds could go the furthest in Russia.

7. Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Sadio Mane will undoubtedly be the team's star man. Senegal made it through a tough qualification group with Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, and South Africa, going through the group unbeaten.

Mane's supporting cast includes Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham), Balde Keita (Monaco) and Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke). Mane and Co have been drawn in a World Cup group containing Poland, Colombia, and Japan. Mane will need to be in top form if Senegal are to make it out of Group H.

Colombia and Poland should prove to be a tough hurdle and Senegal are likely to end their campaign in the group stage. If they somehow do make it through to the knockout stages, they face potentially tougher opponents in the form of Belgium or England. It would be a huge surprise to see Mane in the World Cup quarterfinals.

6. Mohamed Salah (Egypt)

Egypt v Congo - WC 2018 qualify
Mo Salah will be hoping for World Cup heroics

Liverpool star man Mo Salah is currently recovering from a shoulder ligament injury suffered in the Champions League final clash against Real Madrid. Egyptian supporters will be hoping that their talisman is fit and raring to go when the World Cup kicks off.

Egypt finds themselves in Group A alongside hosts Russia, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia. Salah will be hoping the likes of Ahmed Hegazi (West Brom), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City) and Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny provide the necessary support to see them through to the knockout stages.

Uruguay are the toughest team in the group on paper while Russia will be buoyed by their home support. Should Eqypt somehow find their way through, they will likely come up against Spain or Portugal. An early exit looks to be on the cards for Mo Salah.

5. Marko Grujic (Serbia)

South Korea v Serbia - International Friendly
Marko Grujic (center) in action for Serbia

Grujic, who spent the season on loan at Championship side Cardiff, will be hoping to impress in Russia to force his way into manager Jurgen Klopp's plans for next season. Representing Serbia, the 22-year-old will come up against favorites Brazil, Switzerland and Costa Rica.

Serbia impressed in World Cup qualification, topping their group ahead of the likes of Ireland, Wales, and Austria. Grujic will face a tough battle for a place in midfield against the likes of Nemanja Matic (Manchester United), and Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).

On paper, it looks like Brazil will win the group with the other three battling it out for second place. Should Serbia make it through though, they could come up against the winners of Group F likely to be Germany. Marko's chances of progression look bleak.

4. Dejan Lovren (Croatia)

European Qualifiers play-off first leg, Croatia - Greece
Lovren and Croatia go into the World Cup as dark horses

Lovren will need to be solid at the back for Croatia if they are to make any sort of impact in Russia. Croatia have a pretty decent squad and boast one of the best midfields in the tournament consisting of Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona), Marcelo Brozovic (Inter) and Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid).

Croatia however, find themselves in one of, if not the toughest group, having to battle Argentina, Nigeria and Iceland. The Croats should fancy themselves to make it out of the group but should aim to do so as Group winners. This should be tough in a group featuring a Messi-led Argentina but a second place finish means a clash against potential Group C winners France.

Should Lovren and co win the group, however, a place in the quarterfinals could be a real possibility but the semifinals would be a step too far.

3. Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold (England)

Netherlands v England - International Friendly
Henderson one of two Reds on the Three Lions squad

Henderson will be an integral member of the England squad in Russia despite ceding the captaincy to Tottenham's Harry Kane. England will look to him for experience and keep things ticking in midfield. On the other hand, young Trent Alexander-Arnold is taking baby steps on the international front and will be hoping to get some minutes under his belt.

The Three Lions will be expected to qualify for the knockout stages along with Belgium from Group G. Tunisia and Panama are expected to offer little resistance. Expect England to be a tough matchup for potential group H opponents, Colombia or Poland. They would then set up a quarterfinal against favourites Brazil or Germany. A semifinal appearance seems unlikely for Jordan and Trent.

2. Simon Mignolet (Belgium)

Belgium v Saudi Arabia - International Friendly
Mignolet could have an extended stay in Russia

Mignolet may have lost his place as Liverpool's No.1 to Loris Karius but unlike the German, he was included in his national team squad for the World Cup. It is unlikely that Mignolet will start in goal though with Chelsea's Thibaut Courtois the preferred choice for Belgium.

It is surprising that the Belgians are considered dark horses rather than tournament favourites. They have an extremely talented squad including the likes of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur), Thomas Meunier (Paris St-Germain), Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United), Dries Mertens (Napoli), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City) and Eden Hazard (Chelsea).

If the team can play to their potential, they are capable of going all the way. They are at least expected to make it out of Group G, facing potentially Poland or Colombia. These are teams they can beat to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash against potentially Brazil or Germany.

With the potential in their ranks, it would be hard to bet against Mignolet making the semifinal, maybe even progressing further.

1. Roberto Firmino (Brazil)

FBL-FRIENDLY-BRA-CRO
Bobby will turn up for the Selecao

Roberto Firmino and Brazil are strong favourites to win it all in Russia. Part of an extremely talented squad, Firmino will hope to contribute to Brazil's quest towards a sixth World Cup triumph.

He is expected to lineup alongside the likes of Neymar (PSG), Philippe Coutinho (Barcelona), Marcelo (Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Juventus) and Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City). These stars will look to atone for the disappointment of the 2014 semifinal 1-7 exit at the hands of eventual World Champions Germany. Should the two heavyweights win all their contests, a showdown could be on the cards in the Final.

With Liverpool players playing for some serious contenders in Russia, it is almost certain that Firmino, Mignolet, Lovren or Henderson and Alexander-Arnold will at least make it to the World Cup 2018 semifinals.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram
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