Liverpool are sweating over the fitness of Ryan Gravenberch after the midfielder was withdrawn at half-time during the Netherlands’ 4-0 victory over Finland on Sunday night though early signs suggest the issue is not serious.
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of Liverpool’s standout performers this season, becoming central to Arne Slot’s midfield setup. But his early departure in Amsterdam prompted anxiety among supporters already concerned about the club’s growing list of fitness worries during a difficult run of form.
Gravenberch started alongside Frenkie de Jong in the heart of the Dutch midfield, dictating play comfortably before being replaced by Tijjani Reijnders at the interval.
The change initially sparked fears of a potential injury, particularly given Liverpool’s recent struggles to keep key players fit.
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman, however, quickly moved to ease concerns, explaining that the decision to remove Gravenberch was purely precautionary.
“Ryan indicated he had some minor hamstring problem. Of course, we didn’t take any risks with that,” Koeman told Voetbal Zone after the match.
“It wasn’t a tactical change,” he clarified, adding that player welfare was prioritised given the comfortable nature of the game.
Koeman’s comments offered some reassurance, though Liverpool’s medical department will want to assess the midfielder themselves upon his return to Merseyside this week.
The reigning Premier League champions are already managing a delicate period amid a worrisome dip in results, having suffered three consecutive defeats across all competitions their worst run in more than two years.
The timing could hardly be worse for Arne Slot. His side’s form leading into the international break has raised questions over fatigue, squad depth and consistency. With the visit of Manchester United on the horizon, the Dutchman will be hoping for positive news on Gravenberch’s condition in the coming days.
Speaking after the match, Gravenberch himself appeared relaxed about the situation and echoed his manager’s assessment that the issue was minor.
“It was partly fitness related. The season is long, so it was a precaution,” the midfielder told NOS. “I’m feeling good and I have the coach’s confidence.”
Those words will have come as a relief to Liverpool’s staff and supporters alike. Gravenberch’s form has been one of the few consistent positives during an inconsistent start to the club’s title defence.
Since joining from Bayern Munich last summer, the Dutchman has grown into one of Liverpool’s most important figures.
His blend of physical presence, close control and attacking drive has seen him start six of the Reds’ seven Premier League fixtures so far this season, missing only the opening-day win over Bournemouth due to suspension. He has also chipped in with two goals and two assists in all competitions.
Inside the AXA Training Centre, Slot and his backroom team have been mindful of player load after a congested early-season schedule. With several senior figures nursing niggles and others returning from injury, managing the minutes of key personnel has become a balancing act.
Gravenberch’s workload in particular has been notable a testament to his importance in Slot’s evolving midfield. His ability to operate both as a box-to-box runner and as a creative link between midfield and attack has made him indispensable, especially with the rotation of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai
Koeman’s approach to the situation in Amsterdam underlined the growing awareness of player management during international windows.
“We obviously didn’t take any risks with that,” he reiterated post-match. “He told us he felt something, so it was better to stop. The season is long and these players have a lot of matches ahead.”
Netherlands went on to complete a comfortable victory, with Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both on the scoresheet a positive night for Liverpool’s Dutch contingent despite the brief scare surrounding Gravenberch.
For Slot, the hope will be that the midfielder’s substitution remains nothing more than a minor precaution. Liverpool are expected to conduct further assessments once Gravenberch reports back to the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby later this week.
As it stands, the early signs are positive, and Gravenberch could yet feature when Liverpool welcome Manchester United to Anfield on Sunday. But amid a testing spell for the champions, any additional injury concern no matter how small feels significant.
For now, though, both Koeman and Gravenberch have offered the reassurance Slot needed most: that the midfielder’s withdrawal was a matter of management, not misfortune.
