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Liverpool have been dealt a significant injury setback as midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has withdrawn from the Netherlands national team squad due to a suspected injury.
The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed on Wednesday that Gravenberch will miss the Oranje’s UEFA Nations League quarterfinal clash with Spain, having failed to recover from a knock sustained in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final defeat to Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday.
“Ryan Gravenberch has left the Oranje’s training camp this evening,” the KNVB said in a statement. “The midfielder is still suffering from an injury sustained over the weekend that prevents him from playing in the matches against Spain.”
Gravenberch has been a key figure under Arne Slot this season, having struggled for regular game time in his debut campaign under Jurgen Klopp. However, the 22-year-old has started every league match for the Premier League leaders, making his absence a concern for Liverpool as they approach a crucial stage of the season.
Despite leading the league by 12 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal, Liverpool still face a tough run of fixtures, including a Merseyside derby against Everton on April 2. The Reds will also take on Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal in the coming weeks, making Gravenberch’s fitness a priority.
The Netherlands will host Spain in Rotterdam on Thursday before travelling to Valencia for the second leg on Sunday. Meanwhile, Arsenal, Liverpool’s closest title challengers, kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Chelsea last weekend and will be aiming to close the gap before their showdown at Anfield on May 10.
