Liverpool sent new double injury update and get key Ryan Gravenberch boost | OneFootball

Alisson Becker suffers ‘suspected concussion’ for Brazil and Ibrahima Konate status clarified after early France substitution

Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate were both substituted on international duty on Thursday night, though Liverpool appear to have received a timely injury boost over Ryan Gravenberch.

He received treatment on the pitch along with Sanchez before being replaced in the 78th minute by Al-Nassr’s Bento.

Issuing an update on Alisson after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Colombia that saw Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr score a 99th-minute winner after an early Raphinha penalty at the Arena BRB Mane Garrincha was cancelled out by an equaliser from Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, Brazil’s team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar confirmed he had suffered a suspected concussion and would undergo tests.

Clash of heads: Alisson Becker and Davinson Sanchez both needed treatment after nasty collision

REUTERS

"Alisson suffered a head injury and was replaced due to a suspected concussion," he said.

"We will now follow the CBF protocol, and he will undergo the recommended imaging tests, a CT scan and then a diffusion MRI. If all the tests are normal, we will proceed and perform a cognitive test. Then we will evaluate the player.

"He is normal, without any complaints. He did not report any fainting or memory loss.”

If a concussion is confirmed then Alisson would surely be ruled out of Brazil’s huge next qualifying showdown with arch-rivals Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night, with Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes both now suspended for that game after being booked against Colombia.

Brazil are also without the likes of Neymar, Ederson and Danilo at present due to injury, while Argentina are missing Lionel Messi as well as other regulars such as Lautaro Martinez, Lisandro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Giovani Lo Celso and Gonzalo Montiel.

Elsewhere on Thursday night, Alisson’s Liverpool team-mate Konate was replaced by Dayot Upamecano at half-time of France’s 2-0 Nations League quarter-final first-leg defeat by Croatia in Split, with Les Bleus’ social media accounts initially explaining that the defender had sustained a knock.

However, Konate - who started for Liverpool in last weekend’s Carabao Cup final defeat by Newcastle at Wembley, despite limping off in extra time against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League days earlier - had endured a torrid first half alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba and France coach Didier Deschamps later confirmed that his early withdrawal was due to performance rather than any fresh injury.

“I know it's tough, but I saw him struggling, not at his best, so I preferred to substitute him,” Deschamps said.

Confusion: Ibrahima Konate was said to have suffered a knock after being replaced at half-time by France

AP

Liverpool had already seen key midfield regular Ryan Gravenberch pull out of the Netherlands squad this week ahead of their Nations League quarter-final against Spain, with the 22-year-old said to be dealing with an unspecified injury suffered in the Carabao Cup final.

BBC Sport reported on Friday that such a withdrawal was a precautionary measure and that Gravenberch should be fit for the Premier League title run-in, where Arne Slot’s dominant leaders hold a 12-point advantage over closest challengers Arsenal with only nine games remaining.

Harvey Elliott was another injury concern for Liverpool heading into the latest international break, having received treatment, been helped off the pitch and later seen limping after a heavy challenge from Joelinton late on against Newcastle.

However, he has taken part in training with England’s Under-21s over recent days and should be in contention to feature when Lee Carsley’s team face France in a friendly in Lorient on Friday night.

Liverpool’s lack of involvement in FA Cup quarter-final weekend immediately following the international break means they do not play again now until hosting rivals Everton in the latest Merseyside derby at Anfield on Wednesday, April 2.

The Reds remain without Trent Alexander-Arnold due to an ankle injury suffered against PSG, while fellow defenders Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez are also still missing with respective hamstring issues.