Liverpool could get major triple injury boost for Manchester United showdown after new scare | OneFootball

It has been an eventful international break for the Reds so far as Anfield clash with fiercest rivals approaches

Liverpool suffered a new injury scare over Ryan Gravenberch ahead of their looming showdown with Manchester United.

The 23-year-old started in midfield alongside Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong in a 4-0 win over Finland in Amsterdam in which club team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo both scored, but was replaced at half-time by Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders.

It was confirmed after the game that Gravenberch had complained of a hamstring issue, leading to Ronald Koeman taking no risks with his fitness.

“Ryan indicated he had some minor hamstring problem. Of course, we didn’t take any risks with that,” the Netherlands boss.

Gravenberch himself also confirmed that his half-time withdrawal was not tactical, but insisted it was a precautionary measure and that he felt positive.

Injury scare: Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch played only the first half for the Netherlands against Finland

AFP via Getty Images

“It was partly fitness related,” he said. “The season is long, so it was a precaution. I’m feeling good and I have the coach’s confidence.”

Gravenberch - one of the form midfielders in the Premier League this season - will be assessed upon his return to Merseyside this week, though Liverpool correspondent David Lynch reports that he is expected to be fine to train and likely be available for the clash with United.

The centre-back joined up with the France squad as planned, but did not play in Friday’s 3-0 win over Azerbaijan and withdrew before they travel to face Iceland on Monday.

Liverpool will remain without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker this weekend due to a hamstring injury picked up in the recent Champions League defeat by Galatasaray that is expected to keep him sidelined for approximately six weeks, with summer arrival Giorgi Mamardashvili deputising in his absence.

Wataru Endo has been another injury concern for Slot after he last week withdrew from the Japan squad for Kirin Challenge Cup matches against Paraguay and Brazil with an unspecified knock.

However, it does not seem to be anything serious for the versatile midfielder, with Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu explaining: “I was thinking about whether to call him up until the very last minute.

“Asking him to come from Europe again would be a burden for him, so I thought that the current number would be enough.”