FIFA look set to order teams to release players for upcoming World Cup qualifiers and UEFA Nations League matches in October despite some clubs raising concerns over COVID-19.
After Liverpool play Aston Villa at the weekend, they will lose as many close to 20 players to international duty, with some like Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Roberto Firmino likely to have to travel to South America.
Brazil have World Cup qualifying matches against Bolivia (home) and Peru (away) to complete, with the latter of those just three days before the Merseyside derby is currently scheduled to take place.
According to the New York Times, FIFA will 'accede to demands that players not be compelled to play in exhibition or friendly matches' amidst pressure from clubs around the world who are concerned about players contracting the virus - but will make players play in competitive fixtures.
England face Belgium and Denmark in Nations League qualifiers, but play Wales before that in a friendly at Wembley, despite the fixture congestion COVID-19 has caused for domestic and Champions League clashes this season.
Hypothetically speaking, Liverpool and other clubs could, according to the report, refuse to let players play in the friendly - but not in the other two matches as they are deemed more important.
Andy Robertson and Caoimhin Kelleher have already been called up for international duty for their countries.
Virgil van Dijk, Gini Wijnaldum, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Neco Williams, Kostas Tsimikas, Marko Grujic, Diogo Jota, Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi could join them in Europe.
Harry Wilson could make the Wales squad despite not having featured yet for Liverpool this season, while Rhian Brewster is likely to be with England U21s, who are facing Andorra and Turkey.
World Cup qualifiers in Africa and Asia have been postponed and Egypt have no friendlies, meaning Mohamed Salah cannot be called up, but Sadio Mane, Naby Keita and Takumi Minamino could be selected for non-competitive games unless Liverpool were to refuse.
Japan have scheduled friendlies against Cameroon and the Ivory Coast, while Guinea will play Cape Verde Islands and Gambia, and Senegal take on Morocco and Mauritania.
Jordan Henderson is not expected to be picked for England after injury, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is already out.
Thiago Alcantara is self-isolating having tested positive for COVID-19 so cannot be chosen by Spain.
