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Liverpool resumes its season with one of the biggest fixtures in any season on Sunday, as Manchester United visits Anfield.
Both clubs are under different kinds of pressure, with Liverpool aiming to bounce back from three successive defeats, and United searching for back-to-back league wins under Ruben Amorim for the first time. Liverpool is, of course, the overwhelming favorite to win the game, but Arne Slot has a few injury concerns heading into the clash that could hand United encouragement.
Ryan Gravenberch was taken off at half-time of the Netherlands' 4-0 win over Finland on Sunday, and the midfielder confirmed afterwards that the decision was due to a fitness concern.
"It was partly fitness related," Gravenberch said of his withdrawal. "The season is long, so it was a precaution. I'm feeling good, and I have the coach's confidence."
Dutch boss Ronald Koeman said: “Ryan indicated he was experiencing some minor hamstring discomfort. We obviously didn’t take any risks with that.”
Gravenberch will continue to be assessed back at Liverpool this week before a decision is taken on his involvement against United.
Another player whose fitness is a concern is Ibrahima Konate, who did not play for France against Azerbaijan last week before returning to Merseyside ahead of Les Bleus' 2-2 draw with Iceland on Monday.
Konate sustained the problem during Liverpool's loss to Chelsea prior to the international break and was substituted before the hour mark in that game.
Despite that, he linked up with his France teammates, but played no part in either game, and France's medical team corroborated Slot's suspicion that the player is nursing a quadricep injury on his right leg.
Japanese midfielder Wataru Endo has also emerged as a concern after sustaining a hamstring issue against Chelsea.
Endo was omitted from the Japan squad for the friendlies against Paraguay and Brazil, with Japan's manager Moriyasu Hajime explaining: “I was thinking about whether to call him up until the very last minute.
“Asking him to come from Europe again would be a burden for him, so I thought that the current number would be enough.”
One player who is definitely out of the game against United is Giovanni Leoni, who is set to miss the remainder of the season with a serious knee injury.
And it is unlikely that Alisson will return after hurting himself in the Champions League defeat by Galatasaray, so Giorgi Mamardashvili will likely start between the sticks on Sunday.
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