The Premier League is well-represented during each international break and this no more apparent during the summer’s World Cup when 129 players playing in Russia came from the English top flight.
Spain’s La Liga was the next league most represented, supplying 81 players for the most prestigious competition in world football.
The October international break was no different as 165 players from the Premier League were playing senior international football for a number of countries across each continent.
Unsurprisingly, the England national team benefited the most with Gareth Southgate picking 19 players currently playing for Premier League clubs, with youngsters Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund, Mason Mount on loan at Derby County, and Jack Butland of Stoke City making up the rest of the squad.
In previous years Republic of Ireland have benefited greatly from the Premier League. However, more and more players are now coming from the Championship. There were eight Premier League players playing for Ireland during the recent October international break.
That number was matched by the Welsh national team, and only bettered by Brazil, who had nine players currently employed by a Premier League side.
Brazilian stars have certainly come over in their numbers in recent years having not been a huge part of the Premier League for the first decade or so.
During the last break, Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Danilo (Manchester City), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur), Richarlison (Everton) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) were all named in Tite’s squad for the matches against Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
With the top teams generally represented by more players than the lower half sides, it can have a big effect on the results the following weekend.
However, Betfair Odds on Premier League don’t appear to be too bothered by Liverpool having 15 internationals and Manchester City 12, as they are still heavy odds-on favourites to beat Huddersfield Town and Burnley respectively.
The graphic below from the sportsbook exchange shows the number of players each Premier League provided during the recent international break, and the countries they were representing.
