“Six-week layoff possible” – injury expert issues worrying update on Liverpool midfielder
Liverpool’s injury list continues to grow, with new reports indicating Ryan Gravenberch could be out for more than six weeks following the ankle injury he suffered in the defeat to Manchester United.
Fresh update on Gravenberch’s injury
The Dutch midfielder was forced off shortly after the hour mark at Anfield after twisting his ankle in Sunday’s 2–0 loss. Although Arne Slot initially downplayed the issue, an analysis from Physio Scout on X has cast fresh doubt over the extent of the damage.
According to the injury expert, Gravenberch’s substitution came after an apparent ankle inversion and plantarflexion — a mechanism often associated with lateral ankle sprains. These typically involve the ATFL ligament and sometimes the CFL as well.
Expected recovery timeline:
Injury Grade Estimated Recovery
Grade 1 0.5–2 weeks
Grade 2 3–4 weeks
Grade 3 4–6+ weeks
Liverpool face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League this week, but any confirmed ligament damage could rule Gravenberch out for several weeks. That would see him miss key Premier League clashes with Brentford, Aston Villa, and Manchester City, as well as a potential meeting with Real Madrid in Europe.
Midfield stretched once again
Slot confirmed after the match that the midfielder had twisted his ankle and that the club would wait for scan results. The setback comes at a difficult time, with Gravenberch having been one of Liverpool’s standout performers, winning five duels and three tackles before being withdrawn.
His ball-carrying and link-up play have been vital to the team’s midfield structure, and losing him would be a significant blow. While Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister, and Wataru Endo remain available, Gravenberch’s consistency since August has made him a mainstay in the starting XI.
With a congested fixture schedule and ongoing fitness issues throughout the squad, Slot will be hoping the damage is not serious. The best-case scenario would be minimal swelling and instability — but as Physio Scout warned, “any ligament damage confirmed on imaging could extend the absence.”
Liverpool now await scan results, hoping for positive news before their Champions League tie against Frankfurt later this week.
