Reds’ Dutch duo instrumental in Netherlands reaching UEFA Nations League Finals

Virgil van Dijk and Georginio Wijnaldum will return from their latest international break in high spirits after playing pivotal roles helping their country into the UEFA Nations League Finals next summer.

After watching the World Cup this summer from their sofa, they were handed the difficult task of a UEFA Nations League group including World Champions France, and former World Champions Germany.

They topped their group - with Germany relegated in the process.

After initially being defeated away at France in Matchday 1 the signs had not looked good for the country desperate to show that qualification failure for Russia was just a blip.

In October however they struck a big blow on a German side still struggling from their own World Cup disaster.  On that night Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring, and Wijnaldum finished it in a 3-0 win that was only made secure in the final minutes of the game in Amsterdam.

Back in Rotterdam on Friday, the Netherlands got revenge on France.  Gini Wijnaldum breaking the deadlock before half time.  It would finish 2-0 to the home side.

And so on to last night's deciding game in the group.  The Flying Dutchmen travelling to Gelsenkirchen in Germany knowing a point would be enough to give their country a sense of redemption.

They were 2-0 down after 20 minutes, and their performance was lamentable.  But with just five minutes remaining Quincy Promes grabbed a goal back before Virgil van Dijk, in injury time, scored a sensational equaliser.

The Liverpool centre-back was also widely praised for a moment after the final whistle in which he comforted the match referee who had recently suffered a close bereavement.

Speaking afterwards, van Dijk said:

"That man broke down, stood with tears in his eyes because he had just lost his mother.

"I wished him strength and said that he had blown well. It’s a small thing, but maybe it helps him."

England, Portugal, Switzerland and the Netherlands are all in next summer's brief UEFA Nations League Finals tournament, which due to it's involvement of so many Liverpool players now looks like something worth watching.

Congratulations to all the Liverpool players enjoying success on the international front.  Next up for the reds, Watford away on Saturday.

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