Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch pulled out of the Netherlands squad for ‘precautionary reasons’ and is reportedly not expected to be on the sidelines for long.
The midfielder has started every single Premier League match this season for the Reds and has established himself as one of Arne Slot’s most reliable players. Therefore, it came as a huge surprise when he withdrew from the Dutch camp on Wednesday.
“The midfielder is still suffering from an injury sustained over the weekend that prevents him from playing in the matches against Spain,” the Netherlands said via a statement on social media, while Liverpool claimed on its website that Gravenberch ‘will be assessed upon his return to Merseyside’.
However, according to BBC Sports, Gravenberch is expected to return in time for the title run in, and isn’t expected to miss time. While it wasn’t specifically mentioned, the update suggests Gravenberch should be available for Liverpool’s next game, which comes at home to Everton on 2 April.
Following last week’s double cup defeat by Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United, the Reds only have nine league matches to focus on between now and the end of the season.
Given the reliance on Gravenberch in the holding midfield role, his availability will be of paramount importance over the coming weeks. The need for Liverpool’s first-choice stars to be available has been heightened by concerning updates to Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate in the last 10 days.
(Image: Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold picked up an ankle injury that is expected to keep him out for around a month and forced him to miss the Carabao Cup final and Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad. As for Alisson, he suffered a suspected concussion in Brazil’s 2-1 win over Colombia and is now a doubt for that Everton game.
Konate, on the other hand, should be available after Didier Deschamps clarified the decision to replace the center-back at half-time in France’s defeat to Croatia was not down to injury. The team’s X account initially stated Konate had sustained a knock.
Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton also remain on the sidelines for the Reds, but Cody Gakpo returned last week and played 90 minutes in the Netherlands’ draw with Spain on Thursday. Without the injured Gravenberch, Ronald Koeman selected Tijjani Reijnders and Frenkie de Jong at the base of midfield.
