“He was back in training yesterday,” – Arne Slot offers major injury update ahead of the Villa clash

Liverpool have received a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Aston Villa, as one key midfielder returns to action — though not everyone will be fit in time.

Ryan Gravenberch injury update before Liverpool vs Aston Villa

In his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch has resumed full training and could feature at Anfield this weekend.

“Ryan trained with us yesterday. The other two didn’t yet,” the Liverpool boss told reporters on Friday. “As I’ve said many times, during the final stage of recovery, things can sometimes move slower or faster. We’ll see how it goes.”

Gravenberch was forced off just after the hour mark in the 2–0 defeat to Manchester United earlier this month, with early reports suggesting a possible six-week layoff. However, the 23-year-old looks set to return much sooner than expected — missing only three matches in total, according to revised assessments.

The news is a significant lift for Liverpool, especially with Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak both ruled out for the weekend due to ongoing muscle problems.

Curtis Jones absence a blow for Liverpool midfield

Slot confirmed that Jones and Isak are “99.9 per cent sure not in the squad” for the Villa game. Jones’ absence is particularly disappointing after his outstanding display against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, where he set a club record with 122 completed passes — the most by any Liverpool player in the competition’s history.

Liverpool will miss his composure and control in midfield, but Gravenberch’s return offers much-needed stability and experience following the recent defeat to Crystal Palace.

With a demanding run of fixtures against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City all within the next ten days, Gravenberch’s availability could prove vital in helping the team regain rhythm and confidence during a decisive stretch of the season.