Andoni Iraola has confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch remains a doubt for Liverpool's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The midfielder was an unused substitute in the defeat to Arsenal last weekend and was left out of the travelling squad for the midweek Champions League match against Fenerbahce in Istanbul.
Gravenberch has also been omitted from the Netherlands squad for the November international break, adding further uncertainty over his availability for the Reds. Iraola refused to rule the Dutchman out of the clash with the Eagles but conceded that Liverpool will need to make a late decision on his fitness and whether he can play through the pain.
Late Decision on Gravenberch's Fitness
“No, the only doubt we'll have is Ryan,” said the Reds head coach, who will be without Jeremie Frimpong, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike. “The other things will be the same as we've been.
“The Ryan Gravenberch thing is a day-to-day thing. It's a matter of pain. Let's see if he can deal with the pain and if he can help us, yes.”
Barcola's Role Clarified
Iraola also revealed that he intends to use Bradley Barcola predominantly as a winger, despite trialling the £123m summer signing at centre-forward against Fenerbahce. “No, Bradley's a winger,” he said. “He has played as a left winger, sometimes a right winger, but also has played in PSG as a striker, no?
“And it's something that I wanted to try. I thought against their centre-backs, he could be a threat - especially in behind.
“But he's a winger and he will be mostly, 90% of the times, used as a winger. But I think it’s alternatives that I sometimes want to try, no?
“I tried with Cody (Gakpo) against Chelsea, I think in the Carabao Cup and not maybe from the beginning, but it's true that during the games, I think it's options that we can use, no?
“When Alex is tired and we need another type of striker, we can use other strikers that we have, but also wingers that can do a job there.”
