“He trained with us yesterday” – Arne Slot provides major injury update ahead of Aston Villa clash
Liverpool have received a timely boost ahead of Saturday’s Premier League showdown with Aston Villa, as a key midfielder makes his return — though not everyone will be fit to feature.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Arne Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch has resumed full training and may be in contention to play under the Anfield lights.
“Ryan trained with us yesterday. The other two didn’t,” the Liverpool boss told reporters on Friday morning. “As I’ve said before, recovery can either speed up or slow down near the end, so we’ll see how things go.”
Gravenberch, who came off injured during the 2–0 defeat to Manchester United earlier this month, was initially expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks. However, the Dutchman could make his return after just three matches out — a much quicker recovery than first anticipated, according to Physio Scout on X.
His comeback is a huge lift for the reigning champions, especially with Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak both ruled out for the weekend due to ongoing muscle problems.
Slot admitted that Jones and Isak are “99.9 per cent sure not in the squad” for the Villa clash. Jones’ absence, in particular, will be felt after his record-breaking Champions League display against Eintracht Frankfurt, where he completed 122 passes — the highest ever by a Liverpool player in the competition.
While Jones’ creativity and composure will be missed, Gravenberch’s return offers valuable stability in midfield, especially after the recent loss to Crystal Palace that highlighted Liverpool’s need for experience in the centre.
With a demanding run of fixtures ahead — facing Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City within ten days — Gravenberch’s availability could be just what Liverpool need to regain momentum at a crucial stage of the season.
