Liverpool suffer Ryan Gravenberch injury concern before Frankfurt tie | Football | Sport

Liverpool have been dealt a blow ahead of their Champions League tie with Eintracht Frankfurt, as Ryan Gravenberch was absent from open training on Tuesday. The Dutch midfielder was forced off the pitch with an ankle injury during Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United.

The 23-year-old suffered the injury while challenging Bryan Mbeumo early in the second half. Despite attempting to continue playing, he was substituted shortly after the hour mark as Liverpool went on to lose 2-1. Following the match, head coach Arne Slot confirmed that Gravenberch’s substitution was due to his injury and that his condition would be evaluated before the team’s trip to Germany.

“I took him off because he twisted his ankle,” Slot revealed after the match. “Is he an injury concern? That’s what we have to wait and see tomorrow, but we have to play [on Wednesday] again.”

However, with Gravenberch missing from open training, it appears likely that the Reds will be without the Dutch international for their match against Frankfurt.

On a brighter note, Wataru Endo returned to training. The Japanese international had missed the defeat to Manchester United due to a hamstring injury, which also saw him sit out international duty after sustaining the issue against Chelsea.

Alexis Mac Allister also participated in training despite receiving four stitches for a head injury sustained in the loss to United. Both players, along with Curtis Jones, are potential replacements for Gravenberch in the holding midfield role for Liverpool‘s upcoming match in Germany.

Slot is expected to provide an injury update at his pre-match press conference in Frankfurt, scheduled for 6.30pm on Tuesday evening.

He will also be asked about Alexander Isak, who started against United but once again flattered to deceive before Hugo Ekitike came off the bench to make an impression.

Before taking on United, Slot declared that Isak was fully fit and now up to speed, but calls are growing for Ekitike to be instilled in the starting lineup.

Slot must make another decision on Florian Wirtz, who appeared as a substitute in the defeat.

The Dutchman has been unable to make the most of his expensive summer signings so far and will hope to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions, against Frankfurt.