Ryan Gravenberch has returned to Liverpool to be assessed after suffering an injury - and some time away from the pitch might be the best thing for him after a punishing campaign
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Updated 10:57, 20 Mar 2025
Ryan Gravenberch has returned to Merseyside after the Liverpool midfielder pulled out of the Netherlands squad
Ryan Gravenberch has returned to Merseyside after the Liverpool midfielder pulled out of the Netherlands squad
(Image: MB Media/Getty Images)
It's unclear where and when it was sustained. But there were few eyebrows raised when Ryan Gravenberch was confirmed as having withdrawn from the Netherlands squad through injury on Wednesday evening.
Gravenberch has been a revelation for the Reds this term, forcing his way back into the international pecking order having initially drawn criticism from head coach Ronald Koeman for his decision to stay on Merseyside over joining up with the Under-21 squad in the immediate aftermath of his £40m capture from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.
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Since failing to play a minute for the semi-finalists at last summer's European Championships, Gravenberch's form under Arne Slot has led to him becoming an important member of the Oranje setup.
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The Liverpool star has started five of the Netherlands' six matches this term, featuring for 450 of a possible 540 minutes under Koeman. Such has been his form, in fact, that Gravenberch has almost doubled his minutes for the Reds this season compared to last, when he turned out for 1,848 across 58 matches under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have played only 47 games so far, so Gravenberch's 3,516 minutes this term is indicative of a player whose importance has grown exponentially since Slot arrived at Anfield and made him a regular in his deep-lying midfield duo alongside Alexis Mac Allister.
But the performances that lit up Liverpool games earlier in the season have started to dim in recent weeks, illustrating the point that the former Ajax teenager is in need of a break.
Getting him time off has proven a tough task for Slot, whose implicit trust in his compatriot has led to him starting all 29 games so far in the Premier League, while only once was he rested for Champions League duty, with the midfielder sitting out the visit to PSV Eindhoven in January. In total, he played in nine of the 10 games played in the new-look European Cup.
The explanation that Gravenberch has suffered an injury setback on the back of a sub-par display at Wembley in Sunday's Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United will come as no major shock. The vagueness of the statements from both club and country, however, might at least be cause for optimism.
"Ryan Gravenberch has left the Oranje's training camp this evening," posted the Netherlands' official X account on Wednesday. "The midfielder is still suffering from an injury sustained over the weekend that prevents him from playing in the matches against Spain. Take care, Ryan!"
Liverpool followed that up with a Thursday morning statement, saying: "Ryan Gravenberch has departed the Netherlands camp and will not be involved in their fixtures this week.
"The Liverpool midfielder had linked up with his country, alongside Cody Gakpo and Virgil van Dijk, for a UEFA Nations League double-header versus Spain on Thursday and Sunday.
"However, the Dutch announced on Wednesday evening that Gravenberch has now withdrawn from duty due to a fitness issue. The 22-year-old will be assessed upon his return to Merseyside, with the Reds back in action when they host Everton in the Premier League on April 2."
The hope is that with just under two weeks until the Reds are next involved, against Everton in that Merseyside derby on April 2, Gravenberch will be raring to go, fully rested and recharged.
Further assessments will take place before that can be stated with confidence but Liverpool do have a good relationship with the Dutch Football Association and were in regular contact around a decision to bring Van Dijk back to Merseyside in the most recent break.
It was back in November when the Oranje skipper was withdrawn "on medical grounds" as he returned to Merseyside to be checked over ahead of a trip to Southampton that was eventually won 3-2.
“For both Frenkie (De Jong) and Virgil it is better for them to leave the training camp at this moment," Koeman said at the time. "That decision was taken on medical grounds, with of course the interest of the players coming first.”
Van Dijk was later passed fit to play against the Saints and he, like Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah, has started every game for Slot's Reds in the league this season.
Supporters might wait with baited breath for a more detailed update on Gravenberch's situation but the hope is that the 22-year-old is simply set to benefit from some downtime ahead of the final push for Premier League glory.