Liverpool have been hit with a new fitness problem ahead of their crucial Premier League clash with Manchester United as midfielder Ryan Gravenberch faces a race against time to stay fit.
The Netherlands international was forced off at half-time during the Netherlands’ 4-0 win over Finland, raising concerns over a possible hamstring injury just days before one of the most anticipated games of the season.
With several key players already struggling with fitness issues, this latest setback could complicate Arne Slot’s preparations for the match at Anfield.
Ryan Gravenberch suffered an injury during his international duty
The 23-year-old midfielder, who has been in impressive form since arriving from Bayern Munich, was substituted during the break of the Netherlands’ emphatic win in Helsinki.
He was replaced by Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders as a precaution.
Dutch manager Ronald Koeman confirmed after the match that the decision to remove Gravenberch was made to prevent the problem from worsening.
Spoke with NOS after the match (as reported by footballzone.nl), Koeman said:
“Ryan indicated that he was having some problems with his hamstrings. We obviously did not take any risks with that.”
The player himself later reassured fans, suggesting the problem was partly fitness-related rather than a serious injury.
“It was partly fitness-related. The season is long, so it was a precautionary measure. I feel good and have the coach’s confidence,” Gravenberch said.
Arne Slot is patiently waiting for more updates
Gravenberch’s setback comes at a difficult time for Liverpool, who are already struggling with several fitness issues in their squad.
Defender Ibrahima Konaté was forced to withdraw from the France national team ahead of their weekend trip to Iceland, further depleting Slot’s options ahead of the clash with United.
The club will closely monitor Gravenberch’s condition in the coming days, with medical assessments likely to determine whether he will feature against their arch-rivals.
Although early signs suggest Gravenberch’s hamstring problem is not serious, Liverpool will be desperate to get him fit for the upcoming game against United. His influence in midfield has been crucial this season and his availability could be decisive.
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