Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has revealed that Ryan Gravenberch has not broken his ankle but did damage ligaments during Sunday's EFL Cup final with Chelsea.
The Netherlands international was stretchered off in the 28th minute of the contest following a heavy challenge from Moises Caicedo.
Liverpool went on to win 1-0 courtesy of a header from Virgil van Dijk deep into extra-time, but the victory has come at a cost, with Gravenberch joining the long injury list at Anfield.
"There were two teams fighting very hard, and the referee didn't have the level of the game. It was not even a foul?! Then the fourth official explaining we cannot give a card... good idea. This situation was obvious for me, everything you need for a card," Klopp told Sky Sports News after the match.
"They did an x-ray [on Gravenberch], it is not broken but the ligaments got something. I actually feel really bad, but everything else is really good.
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"We don't have a team right now for Wednesday (vs. Southampton in FA Cup). The guys who came on can maybe play again, the rest will get treatment on Monday.
"I love this country to bits, but the schedule is not made for winning a lot. We will see the price we have to pay, but we fight for everything then we see what comes next. Somehow against Southampton there will be a team in Liverpool shirts."
Klopp also branded the victory "absolutely insane", with Liverpool needing to use a number of academy players, including Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns and James McConnell.
"What happened here was absolutely insane, these things are not possible. The team, a squad, an academy full of character. I am so proud I could be part of that tonight," the Liverpool boss added.
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"The craziest thing is we deserved it. We had lucky moments, they had lucky moments. The boys showed up, it was really cool. I am sure we brought on all the kids! We needed fresh legs, they were fresh but very young, but they did the job.
"The boys have trained for a long time with us, they know exactly what we have to do. They are a pain, to be honest, that is what you have to be in these moments.
"But not only them, how about Harvey Elliott for 120 minutes, [Wataru] Endo walked to the ceremony with the stiffest legs.
"We didn't mention Conor [Bradley], he was so good. Caoimhin [Kelleher], he was so good. We have the best keeper in the world and the best number two."
Gravenberch has joined an injury list at Liverpool which also includes Joel Matip, Diogo Jota, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alisson Becker, Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez, Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic.
Matt Law
