Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United came with an added blow as Ryan Gravenberch twisted his ankle and had to be replaced by Curtis Jones midway through the second half.
Manager Arne Slot confirmed that the midfielder will undergo assessment, emphasizing the toll of “three games in seven days” and the importance of utilizing the squad’s depth when necessary.
In goal, nothing has changed — Alisson Becker remains sidelined with a hamstring injury and is yet to return to full training, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili continues between the posts. Wataru Endo also missed the United clash due to a minor knock, while youngster Giovanni Leoni is still recovering from ACL surgery.
The timing of these issues couldn’t be worse. Liverpool went into the international break on a three-game losing streak and have now suffered their first home league defeat of the season to United, despite creating enough chances to earn at least a point.
After Gravenberch’s substitution, Slot tweaked his tactics, tasking Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones with greater central roles in a more attacking setup.
Liverpool will hope to bounce back quickly, with a Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday (October 22) followed by a visit to Brentford at the weekend. Gravenberch remains doubtful for the midweek tie, but if he’s unavailable, Slot has options in Jones, Szoboszlai, or Mac Allister to restore balance and control in
midfield.
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