Liverpool striker Diogo Jota sent a derby day selection message to Jurgen Klopp as he scored twice and provided an assist in Portugal's win over Sweden on Wednesday night.
The 23-year-old forward has already impressed since his £43m move from Wolves, scoring a fine volley on his Premier League debut against Arsenal at Anfield.
He was also one of the Reds' better performers in the 7-2 defeat at Aston Villa before the international break and continued his fine form for his country to give Klopp food for thought ahead of Saturday lunchtime's clash with league leaders Everton at Goodison Park.
Jota was hugely influential for the European champions against Sweden, unselfishly creating the opening goal for Manchester City's Bernardo Silva on 21 minutes after bursting clear of the defence.
He then added the second goal himself a minute before half time, instantly controlling Joao Cancelo's cross from the right flank before firing home a clinical finish.
Jota picked up a booking early in the second half but put the seal on Portugal's triumph 18 minutes from time with a stunning individual goal.
Receiving William Carvalho's clever pass inside the full back, Jota burst down the left flank before cutting inside and rifling home with his right foot to treble in his international goals tally in only his seventh appearance for the senior Portugal side.
Elsewhere, Liverpool's England contingent avoided too much game time in Gareth Southgate's side's 1-0 home defeat to Denmark to keep themselves fresh for Saturday, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez not making it off the substitute's bench while Jordan Henderson only played the last 14 minutes after replacing West Ham's Declan Rice.
It represents a triple boost for Klopp given the quick turnaround to the game against Everton.
The Reds boss will be hoping the rest of the international contingent all return back to Merseyside safe and well with preparation time limited ahead of the 12.30pm kick off at Goodison.
Meanwhile across Europe, Virgil van Dijk and Gini Wijnaldum both played the full 90 minutes as Holland drew 1-1 in Italy, Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek's 25th minute equaliser cancelling out Lorenzo Pellegrini's opener for the hosts.
Andy Robertson sat out of Scotland's 1-0 win over the Czech Republic through suspension.
And Neco Williams made his first start for Wales in the 1-0 win away to Bulgaria and was hailed afterwards by manager Ryan Giggs, who said: “I thought Neco his first start, along on the other flank Rhys [Norrington-Davies] with his first start, were outstanding. Neco was brilliant, he’s done really well since he’s come into the team.”
