After being one of the soundest defensive sides in 2024-25, Liverpool have struggled so far in the new season to retain that solidity while working a slew of new summer signings into manager Arne Slot’s lineup. Now, the situation may have just got more difficult for the Reds.
Late on Sunday, defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch had to come off at the half for the Netherlands as they took on Finland—in the end an easy 4-0 victory—with a hamstring issue. Dutch boss Ronald Koeman said after that it was minor and his removal precautionary, but there will be inevitable concern on Merseyside.
“Ryan indicated that he had some minor hamstring problems,” Koeman noted after the victory when asked about the Liverpool man’s removal at the half, as he was replaced by Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders. “So of course we didn’t take any risks with that.”
Liverpool’s next match is on Sunday when they welcome historic rivals Manchester United to Anfield. The Reds will then have a short turnaround before travelling to Germany for a mid-week league phase Champions League tie with Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Talk of the issue being a minor one was reinforced positively by Gravenberch himself, who insisted afterwards that he was “feeling good” and that he had looked to come off with an eye to his long-term fitness and suggesting that if the match had been more important he might have been able to continue.
“It had a bit to do with fitness,” Gravenberch told the Dutch press following Sunday night’s match. “The season is long, so it was a precaution, but I’m feeling good and I have the coach’s confidence.”