Liverpool will be without Ryan Gravenberch when they open their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth next Friday.
The Netherlands international is serving a one-match ban after being sent off against Crystal Palace on the final day of last season.
Gravenberch joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 but was restricted to just 12 Premier League starts during Jurgen Klopp’s final season in charge. However, the talented midfielder soon became a key player following the appointment of Arne Slot and started all but one of the Reds’ league matches during his compatriot’s maiden campaign at the helm.
Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Palace on the final game of last season after wrapping up the title almost a month previously.
The Reds were forced to come from behind against the Eagles after Ismaila Sarr opened the scoring nine minutes into the match, with Mohamed Salah grabbing an equaliser with six minutes remaining.
But Gravenberch failed to stay on the pitch for the full 90 minutes after being given his marching orders by referee Darren England.
Just after the hour mark, Gravenberch was booked for diving in the Palace penalty box, with Liverpool chasing an equaliser. And with 22 minutes remaining, he was issued with a straight red card for bringing down Daichi Kamada.
Gravenberch has featured regularly throughout pre-season, with the Dutchman starting matches against Preston, AC Milan and Yokohama F. Marinos.
The player also started Liverpool’s second match against Athletic Club on Monday evening as the Reds played back-to-back matches against the Spanish side.
After sitting out the clash with Bournemouth, he will be available for selection again when the Merseyside giants travel to Newcastle in their second league encounter.
Liverpool are the slight favourites to win the Premier League title this season ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City after signing the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong this summer.
The Reds are also chasing the signature of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, who netted 23 goals in the Premier League last time around.
And ahead of the new campaign, Slot explained: “You need to make in everything you do the next step because our competitors are not sitting still as well – not only they try to improve as well but they have also made a lot of signings, like we all have done.
“So that’s why it’s going to be a very interesting Premier League in the upcoming year again.”
