Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp confirms that Ryan Gravenberch will miss Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Southampton, while four other players will need assessing.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch will miss Wednesday’s FA Cup fifth-round clash with Southampton, while four other players will need assessing.
The former Bayern Munich man started Sunday’s EFL Cup final with Chelsea at Wembley but was forced off in the first half, having been the victim of a crunching tackle from Moises Caicedo.
Klopp confirmed immediately after the Reds’ 1-0 extra-time success that Gravenberch had not suffered any fractures, but the Dutchman – who was stretchered off the field – had sustained ligament damage.
The Liverpool boss unsurprisingly did not put a timeframe on Gravenberch’s recuperation over the weekend, but the 21-year-old was never expected to make a miraculous recovery in time for the visit of the Saints.
Speaking to reporters in Tuesday’s pre-game press conference, Klopp announced that Gravenberch would not be fit to face Russell Martin’s side, but he did not rule the midfielder out of the weekend’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest.
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“What I know is that Ryan is not available, besides all the others who are not available,” Klopp said. “It’s a ligament injury, could have been much worse, but bad enough for being ruled out for this game. Next game, we will see. So, we need miracles with a few players, so that’s why I don’t want to rule out for too long.”
Gravenberch will be one of nine definite absentees for a decimated Liverpool side on Wednesday, where Thiago Alcantara (muscle), Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee), Joel Matip (knee), Curtis Jones (shin), Alisson Becker (hamstring), Diogo Jota (knee) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (knee) will also be unavailable.
The ex-Ajax protege was one of two Liverpool lynchpins to come off worse for wear at Wembley on Sunday, as Wataru Endo left the stadium on crutches, while all of Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah failed late fitness tests.
However, Szoboszlai and Nunez were seen leaping over the advertising boards – seemingly with no ill effects – to join in the celebrations on Sunday, and Klopp also played down Endo’s concern as a “proper knock”.
“It’s touch and go with a lot of players, still with the boys who [were] not available for the final – like Darwin, Mo, Dom. We have to see what they can do today,” the German added. “Wataru got a proper knock as well. There we have to see as well. I wouldn’t say it’s much improved since Sunday but that’s how it is.”
Klopp also had another pessimistic update to share on the progress of Thiago, who spent 10 months on the treatment table with a hip problem before immediately picking up a muscular issue on his comeback appearance against Arsenal on February 4.
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The Reds boss could not guarantee that Thiago would play again this season, meaning that the Spaniard may have been seen in a Liverpool shirt for the final time, adding: “I don’t know, to be honest (if he will play again this season).
“It’s a couple of things but what he has to do now from a medical point of view and I don’t know if it will mean again if he can play again. It’s not a short-term thing and that’s why I’m not 100% in it. I’m not sure if it’s the same but the region is the same.”
While Thiago’s season might be over, Klopp revealed that Bajcetic – who has played just twice this season – is now training pain-free and is just waiting for the thumbs-up from the medical team to resume competitive duties.
“I had lunch here and saw him training. I sat there and thought: ‘Why is he not playing?’ He’s obviously gaining fitness now, but didn’t get the green light yet for team training,” the 56-year-old said.
“There is no-one in his building who wants to hold him back so there must be some reasons. He is completely pain-free, all checks have been made, bone looks good.”
Liverpool’s fifth-round clash with Southampton will see the two sides reunite since an engrossing 4-4 draw on the final day of the 2022-23 Premier League season, but the Reds have prevailed in each of their last seven Anfield meetings with the Saints.
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