Ryan Gravenberch has been ruled out of Liverpool's Champions League trip to Fenerbahce on Wednesday after fracturing his heel, with head coach Andoni Iraola unsure when the midfielder will return. The Reds, who sit second in the league phase table after beating Atletico Madrid, LASK and Villarreal, will aim to keep their 100% winning run intact in Istanbul.
Gravenberch suffers heel fracture
Gravenberch was left out of the travelling squad for the match in Turkey because of the heel issue, having been an unused substitute against Arsenal at the weekend. The club confirmed he would remain at the AXA Training Centre to undergo treatment with the medical team.
Iraola said: "I don't know, it's a day to day thing. It's a fracture of the heel, it's about the pain. I think he's been with some discomfort. The other day against Arsenal, he was warming up and he was not fully confident. He has not improved since then."
"It's going to be something where every day he ask him, every day we see how he is. If he can be available for the weekend, lovely. It would be a very good help for us but I cannot tell you right now."
Frimpong and Leoni face extended absences
Jeremie Frimpong, who has been beset by issues since arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, sustained a new muscle injury in the second or third minute of a match. Iraola said it would be difficult for the right-back to return before the November international break.
Giovanni Leoni's comeback after more than a year out has been delayed, with his injury more complicated than initially reported. The £26m arrival from Parma has been absent since suffering serious ACL damage on his debut in the Carabao Cup win over Southampton in September 2025. Iraola said the recovery was taking longer than hoped, with the plan now for Leoni to start training with the team in the next international break.
Ekitike and Bradley on the mend
Hugo Ekitike has not played since rupturing his Achilles tendon against Paris Saint-Germain in April. According to L'Equipe, he could return to training later this month, with a long-term target of getting back into action by Boxing Day. Iraola said: "He is still doing very well according to the plan."
Conor Bradley is further ahead than Ekitike and closing in on light training after a knee injury suffered in January at Arsenal. Iraola said: "Conor is not so far from training with the group – not like full training but doing some things with the group."
Dominik Szoboszlai and Victor Munoz returned from injury against Arsenal, but none of Liverpool's long-term absentees are yet ready to play.
