Liverpool will be without Ryan Gravenberch for their Champions League clash at Franfurt with Arne Slot admitting he may have to reshuffle his midfield without his Dutchman
Arne Slot heads to Germany seeking to end Liverpool's losing run
Arne Slot heads to Germany seeking to end Liverpool's losing run(Image: John Powell, Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits Ryan Gravenberch will miss Wednesday's clash with Frankfurt through injury and the midfielder's absence could lead to a reshuffle such is the Dutchman's importance.
Gravenberch enjoyed his breakout season at Anfield last term, being among their best players, and his importance in the middle of the pitch has continued to grow. He was hauled off during the loss to Manchester United on Sunday with an injury worry.
Slot has now confirmed he will not feature in Germany with Liverpool seeking to snap a run of four straight losses. The Reds boss cited his "particular quality" and hinted that with Gravenberch absent several other players may have to adopt new roles.
Liverpool's lack of control in matches has been noted as an issue with the team looking a shadow of the side who won the title last term and Gravenberch is the main man trusted with protecting the back four.
Slot said: "Yeah, I had to take him off during the weekend because he limped a little bit, as we could all see. So, unfortunately, he's not ready to play tomorrow. That already means I definitely have to change one player and with him not being there, that might mean something for others as well, because he has such a particular quality in our squad, which we've seen when we played Bournemouth for example.
"When we played the Community Shield - that we missed a little bit of a player that was always protecting our back four. Ryan is not available for the Frankfurt game, hopefully he will be available at the weekend. But it's an ankle injury, we have to wait and see, give him a bit of time and see where he is when we come back from Frankfurt."
Dominik Szoboszlai has been a midfielder for much of his time at Anfield but this term has been deployed as a right-back, which could now change. Alexis Mac Allister has been a regular in the middle of the park and Wataru Endo, whose minutes have been limited, could get a rare opportunity.
Ryan Gravenberch's absence will leave a notable hole in Liverpool's midfield
Ryan Gravenberch's absence will leave a notable hole in Liverpool's midfield
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Liverpool have won one and lost one of their two Champions League outings but head to Germany in the midst of their worst losing run since 2014. Slot reiterated the expectations that come for any player representing the Reds.
He claimed: "Like I said before the United game, it should not matter if we win or lose a game of football for the next one. The aim if you play for Liverpool, if you wear this shirt, is to win every single game. So, if we win seven in a row, how we started the season, then we want to win the next three.
"We didn't. Now we've lost the last four. So now, of course we want to see Liverpool winning again. But that is not different when you lost four in a row or you won four in a row - it is just what is expected of you if you play for Liverpool."
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