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Liverpool have been dealt a new injury blow as Ryan Gravenberch will miss the Champions League showdown against Fenerbahce.
Gravenberch has cemented himself as a regular in Liverpool’s midfield since the autumn international break, starting five of the seven matches across all competitions.
He did, however, miss the comeback win over Brentford through suspension after being sent off in the defeat to Manchester City and was then dropped for the 1-0 loss to Arsenal at the weekend.
Gravenberch was expected to be in contention for Liverpool against Fenerbahce on Wednesday, but it has since been revealed that the Dutchman will not be making the trip to Turkey.
A Liverpool statement reads: “A heel injury means the midfielder will not be part of the Reds’ travelling squad for Wednesday’s meeting with the Turkish side in Istanbul.
“He will instead remain at the AXA Training Centre to undergo treatment with the club’s medical team.”
Ruled out: Ryan Gravenberch
Getty
As such, Gravenberch joins Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and fellow Dutchman Jeremie Frimpong as the five Liverpool injury absentees against Fenerbahce.
Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa, meanwhile, are unavailable due to not being named in the club’s squad list for the Champions League this season.
It remains to be seen if Gravenberch will be fit to face Crystal Palace at the weekend, though he has a battle on his hands to regain a midfield spot from Trey Nyoni.
“The thinking is that he's playing very well and we trust him," Iraola told Sky Sports pre-match of his decision to drop Gravenberch in favour of Nyoni against Arsenal.
"I think he gives us good control on the ball. I think he also understands the game well.
"Without the ball, I think he's smart to deal with all the complications that Arsenal put there in the middle – they start rotating players. I think he's pretty good on those things. We definitely trust Trey to do well."
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Tsimikas, Araujo, Chambers
Midfielders: Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Isak, Gakpo, Munoz, Barcola, Koumas, Ngumoha, Danns