Liverpool’s preparation for their crucial Champions League trip to Eintracht Frankfurt has been disrupted after the club’s flight to Germany was delayed due to technical problems with the plane forcing the cancellation of their scheduled pre-match press conference.
Arne Slot and his players were due to fly from Merseyside on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Wednesday night’s league phase clash at Deutsche Bank Park. However, the squad’s plans were thrown into disarray after issues with the aircraft grounded the team at John Lennon Airport for several hours.
The Reds had earlier completed a training session at the AXA Training Centre in Kirkby, where 22 players were involved in the final workout before departure. But by the time the squad were due to speak to the media in Frankfurt with Slot and Dominik Szoboszlai set to appear at 6:30pm (BST) Liverpool were still on English soil.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, the club confirmed the news:
“Our pre-match press conference for the clash with Eintracht Frankfurt has been cancelled. A delay in the squad’s scheduled flight out to Frankfurt, due to technical issues with the aircraft, means the briefing will now not be able to take place.”
The delay adds another unwanted complication to what has already been a testing period for Slot and his squad. Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester United at Anfield courtesy of Harry Maguire’s late header marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions. It’s a run that has left the reigning Premier League champions searching for answers and in desperate need of a response.
Slot had been expected to face questions about his side’s form and the fitness of midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who limped off during the United defeat after twisting his ankle.
The Dutchman’s absence from open training earlier in the day raised fresh concerns about his availability for the trip to Germany, while Alisson Becker was seen training individually indoors. Wataru Endo, meanwhile, returned to full team training.
The cancellation of the media duties means supporters will have to wait until the squad lands to learn whether Gravenberch and others are part of the travelling party. Liverpool are yet to officially confirm their 23-man list, understood to be delayed by the logistical issues.
For Slot, the disruption is far from ideal. His side’s confidence is fragile, performances have faltered, and a fixture away to a dangerous Frankfurt team unbeaten in their last five Bundesliga games now takes on even greater importance.
The German outfit, currently seventh domestically, have enjoyed a mixed start to their European campaign: a 5-1 demolition of Galatasaray was followed by a heavy 5-1 defeat to Atlético Madrid.
Liverpool, too, hold one win and one defeat from their first two group matches. Victory in Germany would be a timely reset both in Europe and psychologically as they aim to steady themselves after a bruising October.
The trip will also be a poignant one for Hugo Ekitike, who returns to Frankfurt the club where he scored 22 goals last season before his summer move to Merseyside. The Frenchman has shown flashes of promise in his early Liverpool outings and could be handed another opportunity to impress.
With questions swirling about his approach, squad rotation, and the absence of consistency in both performance and results, Wednesday night’s fixture carries greater weight than most group-stage matches at this stage of the competition.
A win would not only lift Liverpool’s prospects in Europe but could also restore a measure of belief and momentum to a team that has suddenly found itself searching for identity and confidence.
For now, all eyes turn to Frankfurt, where the Reds hope the turbulence will be confined to the skies rather than the pitch.
