Ryan Gravenberch was substituted at half-time in Holland’s World Cup qualifier against Finland, with Ronald Koeman revealing the Liverpool midfielder has a muscle injury
Gravenberch has presented Liverpool and Arne Slot with a new injury worry before the team’s Premier League encounter with Manchester United after helping propel the Netherlands closer to World Cup qualification.
Gravenberch was withdrawn at the interval as the Dutch cruised to a 4-0 victory over Finland on Sunday to stay atop their qualifying group. Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman subsequently disclosed that the Reds midfielder had been replaced by Manchester City’s Tijjani Reijnders due to a muscular complaint, stating: “Ryan indicated he had some minor hamstring problems. Of course, we didn’t take any risks with that.”
Gravenberch explained his absence from the second period: “It was partly fitness related.
He will now head back to the AXA Training Centre to have any issue evaluated, with Liverpool next in action on Sunday when bitter North West rival United visits in the Premier League.
The Reds are already missing the hamstrung Alisson Becker for the fixture, while Ibrahima Konate was sent home early from the France squad with a thigh complaint, and Wataru Endo sat out Japan’s friendlies due to a hamstring concern.
Cody Gakpo bagged his third strike of the international window, and Virgil van Dijk also found the net, as the Netherlands maintained a three-point advantage over Poland with two matches left to play.
Jeremie Frimpong remained an unused substitute.
In other World Cup qualifying news, Andy Robertson captained Scotland to a tense 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Belarus, securing at least a playoff spot.
Robertson set up the second goal for Scott McTominay, keeping Steve Clarke’s team level with group leaders Denmark on goal difference.
However, the Liverpool defender confessed: “It doesn’t feel good. We can be honest with that.
“It doesn’t feel like a win at the minute and I think you can see that by our reaction at the end which is hugely frustrating. The performance is nowhere near where we need it to be.
“We gave them far too many chances. I don’t know if we were tired from Thursday night (when Scotland beat Greece 3-1), we put a lot into that one, but that’s no excuse.”
On another note, with Egypt having already secured its place in the World Cup, Mohamed Salah was given a rest for the team’s 1-0 triumph over Guinea-Bissau but stayed with the squad and joined in the celebrations in Cairo upon reaching next summer’s finals.
