Liverpool’s week has gone from bad to worse. Ahead of a must-win Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, manager Arne Slot confirmed midfielder Ryan Gravenberch will miss the trip due to an ankle injury.
The Dutch midfielder limped off during the second half of Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield — a result that deepened the Reds’ ongoing slump.
Slot revealed that Gravenberch twisted his ankle and has not recovered in time to travel with the team.
“Yeah, I had to take him off during the weekend because he limped a little bit, as we could all see. So, unfortunately, he’s not ready to play tomorrow,” Slot told Liverpoolfc.com.
“That already means I definitely have to change one player and with him not being there, that might mean something for others as well, because he has such a particular quality in our squad.”
The update comes at a difficult moment for Liverpool. The club is enduring a run of four consecutive defeats across all competitions, and Slot’s men are desperate to stop the rot in Europe.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
How Gravenberch’s absence could impact Liverpool?
Getty Images
Gravenberch’s absence could leave a major gap in midfield. The 23-year-old has been one of Liverpool’s most consistent performers this season, providing balance and protection to the back four — something Slot openly admitted is hard to replace.
“Ryan is not available for the Frankfurt game, hopefully he will be available at the weekend,” Slot added. “But it’s an ankle injury, we have to wait and see, give him a bit of time and see where he is when we come back from Frankfurt.”
To make matters worse, Liverpool’s preparations have been disrupted off the pitch too.
The team’s flight to Germany was delayed due to technical issues, forcing the cancellation of Slot’s pre-match press conference. Apparently, even the plane joined the club’s recent injury list.
Still, Slot remains firm about expectations. “If you play for Liverpool, you aim to win every single game,” he said. “Whether we’ve won seven in a row or lost four, the goal doesn’t change.”
Liverpool fans will hope those words turn into action, as Slot looks to guide his team out of turbulence — both literally and figuratively.
Liverpool news and related links
