Ryan Gravenberch missed Liverpool’s final training session on Tuesday ahead of their Champions League clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. The Dutch midfielder picked up an ankle injury on Sunday during the Premier League showdown against Manchester United.
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Ryan Gravenberch missed Liverpool’s final training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League trip to Germany and will not be available for selection.
The Dutch midfielder suffered an ankle injury on Sunday during the Premier League defeat to Manchester United and was withdrawn around the hour mark as a precaution before subsequent assessment confirmed the issue. The Champions League group stage match away to Eintracht Frankfurt kicks off at 21:00 on 22-10-2025 at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, and the club has not put a precise timeline on his return.
Gravenberch’s absence arrives at a difficult moment for Arne Slot, who has leaned on the 23-year-old to give Liverpool balance between ball progression and defensive coverage. With his blend of press resistance, long strides through the middle third, and capacity to recover second balls, he has often been the midfielder that connects Liverpool’s first pass out of pressure to the attacking unit. Removing that piece forces a recalibration of the entire central structure, especially in away European fixtures where control periods can be short and transition moments are magnified.
In practical terms, Curtis Jones becomes the most natural internal solution for the left-sided role, but he offers a different profile. Jones can circulate possession cleanly and protect the ball in tight spaces, yet he does not provide the same recovery speed and aerial help that Gravenberch brings when Liverpool are defending wide switches or set plays. That difference will influence how Liverpool defend Frankfurt’s transitions. Slot may compensate by keeping one fullback slightly deeper in rest defense or by tasking the nearest winger to drop earlier into the half space to block the direct pass into the inside channel.
Alexis Mac Allister trained on Tuesday after receiving stitches on Sunday following a collision with Virgil van Dijk. His availability matters because he can stabilize Liverpool’s first phase and control tempo under pressure. If he starts as the pivot, Dominik Szoboszlai may be asked to operate a touch deeper to share build-up duties, especially in the opening stages when the crowd pushes Frankfurt to press high. Wataru Endo is another route to stability if Slot prefers a more orthodox screening midfielder to absorb counters and protect the zone in front of the center backs.
Alisson Becker remained absent in the build-up, which likely keeps Caoimhin Kelleher in goal. Communication and starting positions will be essential, particularly against early crosses and cut-backs that Frankfurt favor at home. With Gravenberch out, Liverpool also lose one of their better tall duel winners on defensive corners, so the burden increases on Van Dijk, Ibrahima Konaté, and Darwin Núñez to dominate first contacts while Mac Allister or Endo manage the second ball edge of the box.
Tactically, Frankfurt can shift between a 3-4-2-1 and a compact 5-4-1 without the ball, condensing central lanes and provoking switches. To break that shell, Liverpool need consistent occupation of both half spaces rather than funneling every attack down the flanks. One pattern that can work is to draw the near-side wingback out with short combinations, then find the far-side interior run with a flat diagonal before the back line can shuffle. Another is to rotate the right-sided triangle so that Mohamed Salah receives between the lines while Szoboszlai or Harvey Elliott pins the fullback and the nine threatens depth. The quality of the third man run will determine whether these patterns lead to shots or to recycled possession.
Match rhythm will hinge on who scores first. If Liverpool strike early, expect a more conservative posture from one fullback and a greater emphasis on compressing the middle third to deny Frankfurt the chance to lift the crowd with fast breaks. If the hosts score first, Liverpool will need to raise the tempo without opening the game. That is where Jones’s ball security and Mac Allister’s tempo management can prevent a chaotic end-to-end exchange that would suit Frankfurt.
Selection pathways are relatively clear. One approach places Jones to the left of Mac Allister with Szoboszlai slightly higher to connect with Salah. Another uses Szoboszlai deeper with Elliott as the high interior to combine in tight spaces. Either way, the center forward choice colors the plan. Núñez pins defenses with constant depth runs and attacks the near post on early balls, which can unsettle a back five. Diogo Jota gives neater wall passes and clever movement in the box if Liverpool want more control and late-arrival finishes. Substitutions around the hour mark are likely to prioritize energy and pressing sharpness rather than wholesale structural change, given the limited like-for-like cover for Gravenberch.
Set pieces will be a swing factor. Frankfurt carry threat with outswing deliveries that target the penalty spot and the second ball zone. Liverpool must be clean on blocks, matchups, and the clearance lane at the top of the area. In attack, Liverpool’s deliveries toward Van Dijk and Konaté can generate either direct chances or knockdowns for Salah and Jota. Without Gravenberch’s height, Liverpool may adjust their screen and near-post runs to maintain variety.
Beyond the tactical board, there is the psychological element. European away nights can steady a team as much as they test it. A disciplined first 20 minutes, minimal cheap turnovers, and a willingness to win field position rather than force entries through a packed center can quiet the stadium and bring the match onto Liverpool’s terms. Slot’s message will likely stress patience with the ball and aggression without it, especially in the five seconds after a turnover where Liverpool traditionally create some of their best chances.
The stakes are straightforward. Points in Frankfurt would strengthen Liverpool’s position in the group and restore momentum after Old Trafford. The schedule tightens quickly after this match, so an efficient performance that does not demand a late-game sprint would be ideal. The medical staff will continue to assess Gravenberch through the week. A swift response to treatment would ease pressure on the rotation, but the priority will be a complete recovery rather than a rushed return.
Updated: 03:40, 21 Oct 2025
