Coates is the South American Smalling: Liverpool fans react to his World Cup call-up

Liverpool defender Sebastian Coates has been selected in Uruguay boss Oscar Tabarez’s 25-man preliminary World Cup squad.

Two men will need to be trimmed from the group but the fact the 23-year-old is in such a position has left Reds fans slightly dismayed.

The centre-back was signed for a reported £7million back in 2011 but he has failed to make an impact at Anfield.

Last summer his progress was hampered further when he was struck down by an anterior cruciate ligament injury on international duty.

Coates has since managed four games on loan at former side Nacional, but supporters across the globe were less than kind upon hearing the news he could be heading to Brazil.