Liverpool learn possible Ryan Gravenberch recovery timeframe as injury expert shares verdict
Liverpool’s problems continue to mount following their fourth successive defeat in all competitions.
On Sunday, October 20, Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat against Manchester United as goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire cancelled out Cody Gakpo’s equaliser.
Alexander Isak was slammed for his performance against Man United, after failing to score in his first four Premier League games for the Reds.
Conor Bradley was also criticised for his display, with the Northern Irishman struggling to replace the loss of Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.
But it wasn’t just the below-par performances of Arne Slot’s stars that drew concern, as Ryan Gravenberch was forced off the pitch.
Ryan Gravenberch recovery timeframe revealed
There was anxiety in the crowd when Gravenberch twisted his ankle during the loss to Man United, with Slot substituting his midfielder in the 62nd minute.
“I took him off because he twisted his ankle. Is he an injury concern? That’s what we have to wait and see tomorrow, but we have to play in two days again,” the Dutchman said in his post-match press conference.
Following the defeat, Gravenberch missed training on Monday, 21 October, and is set to miss Liverpool’s visit to Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday.
Ryan Gravenberch was substituted in the second half of Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United after appearing to twist his ankle.
— Physio Scout | Football Injury Analysis (@physioscout) October 21, 2025
The mechanism – inversion and plantarflexion at the ankle, raises concern for a lateral ankle sprain. These typically involve the ATFL and, in some… pic.twitter.com/BfBMjAAOvL
That leaves Slot with a potentially huge conundrum to resolve in midfield, and according to Physio Scout on X, the 23-year-old could face up to two weeks on the sidelines.
Analysing the problem in detail, the injury expert wrote: “Lateral ankle sprains often look worse than they are, if swelling and instability are minimal, a Grade 1 sprain and a quick return are most likely.“
Worryingly, though, if Gravenberch has done ligament damage, the influential midfielder could face several weeks on the sidelines.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool conundrum is waiting to be resolved
Liverpool’s power spending during the summer has currently failed to give them an advantage over title rivals, Arsenal and Manchester City.
As it stands, the main reason why they’ve lost four in a row is that their team is unbalanced in crucial parts of the pitch, most notably in the full-back and midfield positions.
Florian Wirtz has impacted Liverpool’s balance so far, and even though he didn’t start against Man United, the visitors still played through them easily.
It’s currently looking like an impossible task for Slot to fit all of his big-money signings into one team, and losing Gravenberch only gives the Dutchman more issues in midfield.