Liverpool’s players were put through an intense training session at the AXA Training Centre today before heading to Germany for tomorrow night’s Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Both sides enter the match with identical records — one win and one loss each from their opening two fixtures in the league phase. Frankfurt have struggled recently, losing three of their last five games while scoring 12 and conceding 18. That puts Liverpool’s defensive issues into perspective, with 17 goals conceded in 12 games across all competitions so far this season, although Jamie Carragher’s worries about their leaky backline remain justified.
There was a mix of positive and negative news from today’s training session in Kirkby. According to Theo Squires of the Liverpool Echo, Ryan Gravenberch missed open training after twisting his ankle in Sunday’s defeat to Manchester United. Injury experts suggest the midfielder could be sidelined for up to six weeks, depending on how serious the problem is.
On the brighter side, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo both trained with the group. Endo has seemingly recovered from the head knock he suffered at Anfield, while Mac Allister is nearing full fitness after a recent hamstring issue.
With Gravenberch expected to miss the Frankfurt game, a midfield spot will be up for grabs. If cleared to play, Mac Allister is likely to start, while Endo could feature as the defensive shield in front of the back four. Alternatively, Dominik Szoboszlai might be deployed in a deeper role, allowing Florian Wirtz to return to the lineup as the number 10. Curtis Jones is also in contention after an impressive cameo against Manchester United.
Head coach Arne Slot will provide an official injury and squad update during his pre-match press conference at 6:30pm (UK time). Liverpool fans will be hoping for positive news on Gravenberch, though the travelling squad should be confirmed before then.
Should the Dutch midfielder miss out, it would be a blow — but Slot still has several reliable options to call upon for the crucial European tie.
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