Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been handed another potentially concerning injury scare, as Ryan Gravenberch has been forced to withdraw from the Netherlands squad.
The former Bayern Munich and Ajax man was unsurprisingly called up to Ronald Koeman's squad for their upcoming UEFA Nations League quarter-final clashes with Spain.
In two repeats of the 2010 World Cup final, Oranje host the reigning European champions at De Kuip on March 20, three days before the second leg of their last-eight clash at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium.
However, Gravenberch will not be involved in either game, as it has been revealed that the 22-year-old picked up an issue in the Reds' 2-1 loss to Newcastle United in Sunday's EFL Cup final.
Gravenberch played 74 minutes of the Wembley showpiece before being withdrawn for Federico Chiesa, and the midfielder will now rehabilitate from his unspecified problem at Kirkby.
Netherlands release statement as Gravenberch withdraws
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"Ryan Gravenberch has left the Oranje's training camp this evening. The midfielder is still suffering from an injury sustained over the weekend that prevents him from playing in the matches against Spain," the Netherlands said in a statement.
It is not clear how severe Gravenberch's issue is at this juncture, and there is therefore no knowing whether the 22-year-old might be a doubt for Liverpool's first game back, a Merseyside derby at home to Everton in the Premier League on April 2.
The Dutchman failed to make a serious impact in his first season at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, but he has blossomed into one of the Premier League's top-performing midfielders with Slot at the helm.
Gravenberch has provided two assists in 41 games for Liverpool in the 2024-25 season, starting all 29 of their Premier League games and nine of their Champions League contests.
The Reds are already missing Tyler Morton (shoulder), right-back trio Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle), Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez (both hamstring) due to injury, although Bradley is thought to have a chance of returning immediately after the international break.
How could Liverpool cope without Gravenberch?
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A question that Slot has not to answer once yet this season, as Gravenberch has been an ever-present in the Premier League and has only been omitted from EFL Cup and FA Cup fixtures, as well as the inconsequential Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven.
The 22-year-old has been an intercepting machine this season, making a joint-high 50 in the current Premier League campaign - only Fulham's Antonee Robinson has registered as many.
Should Gravenberch's injury prove severe enough to keep him out for a domestic game or two, Wataru Endo is the most natural replacement, as no timeframe has been placed on Morton's recovery from his shoulder problem.
Curtis Jones is another option to link arms with Mac Allister behind Dominik Szoboszlai, but Gravenberch was in desperate need of a rest anyway, and Slot will no doubt hope that he will be fit and ready for the resumption of domestic football following a well-earned break.
Ben Knapton
