Ryan Gravenberch to miss Liverpool’s trip to Fenerbahçe with heel injury

Ryan Gravenberch will not travel with Liverpool to Istanbul on Tuesday for their UEFA Champions League league phase match against Fenerbahçe, the club confirmed, after the midfielder sustained a heel injury. The Dutch international will remain at the AXA Training Centre for treatment rather than join the 22-man travelling party.

Gravenberch was an unused substitute in Liverpool’s recent Premier League defeat to Arsenal, when Dominik Szoboszlai replaced him as a second-half substitute; the club did not disclose an injury at the time. The midfielder is part of Andoni Iraola’s squad but has had limited league starts this season.

This season Gravenberch has made 12 appearances in all competitions and registered one assist. Under Iraola he has started only four Premier League matches, with the coach often preferring academy graduate Trey Nyoni in midfield.

The club issued a statement on the absence, saying: “Ryan Gravenberch has been ruled out of Liverpool’s Champions League fixture at Fenerbahce,” and adding: “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.”

Liverpool’s official update also noted that Gravenberch will not travel with the 22-man group bound for Istanbul and will receive treatment from the club’s medical staff at the AXA Training Centre. The club confirmed the heel issue as the reason for his omission from the travelling squad.

The article also lists other absentees in the Liverpool squad: Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are still out, while Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong are sidelined with hamstring and knee problems respectively; the piece includes the lines “He has picked up a heel injury. Liverpool have not confirmed that yet.”

Gravenberch’s absence means he will miss Liverpool’s Champions League meeting with Fenerbahçe in Istanbul this week, with the club identifying the heel injury as the cause and confirming he will stay at the AXA Training Centre for treatment ahead of the fixture.