After hobbling off against Manchester United, Ryan Gravenberch has given Liverpool and manager Jurgen Klopp further cause for concern regarding injuries.

The 21-year-old was given the starting nod for Sunday’s Premier League matchup against their North West rivals, but his first taste of the rivalry ended early when he was substituted off after an hour.

After making a lunging run from midfield earlier in the game, Gravenberch was soon on his haunches in the middle of the pitch.

In a double switch from Jurgen Klopp, Trent Alexander-Arnold moved into midfield and Joe Gomez inserted himself at right-back, replacing Cody Gakpo.

At the AXA Training Centre, and specifically in the midfield division, the Dutchman is now the newest player on the treatment table. Alexis Mac Allister has just joined the long-term absentees, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic being among them. Mac Allister sustained a nasty gash on his leg during the first half against Sheffield United.

It was far from a classic match between Liverpool and Manchester United, despite a great deal of build-up to their match against the under-pressure Erik ten Hag. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah gave the Reds two chances to score in the second half, but Rasmus Holjund’s substitution of Alisson Becker gave the visitors, by far, the better start.

Liverpool’s festive schedule is packed, starting on Wednesday with their Carabao Cup quarterfinal against West Ham United and continuing with Premier League matches against Arsenal and Burnley before beginning the New Year at home against Newcastle United.

After leaving Bayern Munich on deadline day, the former Ajax midfielder has played in 18 games, scoring twice and dishing out as many assists. He was brought on in the middle of the week to take Wataru Endo’s place as Liverpool lost their Europa League quarterfinal match against Union Saint-Gilloise.