Liverpool veteran misses Tuesday’s training session as Arne Slot receives double fitness boost elsewhere
The Liverpool squad trained at the AXA Training Centre today ahead of their flight to Germany for Wednesday night’s Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Both sides head into the fixture with one win and one defeat from their opening two group games. Frankfurt have lost three of their last five matches, scoring 12 and conceding 18, which slightly softens the view on Liverpool’s own defensive record of 17 goals conceded in 12 games across all competitions. Still, Jamie Carragher’s worries about the Reds’ defensive vulnerability remain justified.
Mixed updates from Liverpool training
There was a combination of good and bad news from Kirkby today as Liverpool prepared for their trip to Frankfurt.
According to Theo Squires of the Liverpool Echo, Ryan Gravenberch missed open training after twisting his ankle during Sunday’s loss to Manchester United. Injury experts suggest the 23-year-old could face up to six weeks on the sidelines, depending on how serious the damage is.
On the positive side, Arne Slot will be pleased to see Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo back in training. Endo seems to have recovered well from the head injury he sustained at Anfield, while Mac Allister is nearing full fitness after a recent hamstring issue.
Who replaces Gravenberch in Frankfurt?
With Gravenberch unlikely to feature, a midfield slot will open up for the Reds, and Slot has several options to choose from.
Mac Allister should start if fully fit, while Endo could step into the holding role to shield the defence. Another possibility is Dominik Szoboszlai dropping deeper, allowing Florian Wirtz to return to the starting lineup as the central attacking midfielder.
Curtis Jones is also in contention after a promising cameo against Manchester United, which might earn him a start in Gravenberch’s absence.
Slot is expected to provide a clearer update on team news during his pre-match press conference at 6:30pm UK time. While Gravenberch’s potential absence is a setback, Liverpool can take comfort in having strong midfield alternatives ready to step up.
