Arne Slot explains why Ryan Gravenberch was not included in Liverpool's Community Shield squad to face Crystal Palace

Liverpool fans may have been concerned when Liverpool announced their squad and Gravenberch was absent from both the starting line-up and the substitutes bench. The Dutch midfielder has been transformed under the stewardship of Slot and the Reds faithful would have been dreading a long-term injury or news that could have kept their key midfielder out for the early stages of the Premier League season. 

Those fears were soon eased once Slot broke the news that Gravenberch had become a father on Saturday night. The midfielder was allowed to remain with his partner and newborn child, but will return to the squad this week. The Reds named Curtis Jones in Gravenberch's place and made a fast start - Hugo Ekitike firing them ahead in a matter of minutes. Slot named a strong team and explained his reasoning behind that decision ahead of the game.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Slot said: “Ryan Gravenberch became a dad last night.

“Ideally you want to play the best possible game you can play.

“But we also know how difficult it is to play that game against Palace because they are here for a reason: they beat [Aston] Villa in the [FA Cup] semi-final and [Manchester] City in the final.

“And at the end of the season, Arsenal and us were not able to win against them in our own stadiums. We know how good or how smart it is to keep the team together because that’s what we did last season and we know the end result.

“Palace has exactly the same team playing for them today that played for them throughout almost the whole of last season. So, a big challenge ahead of us.”

Arne Slot will be desperate to make a winning start to the season, with victory in the Community Shield and Friday night's opening game of the Premier League season against Bouremouth likely to set a marker for the rest of the competition to follow. Following his red card in Liverpool's final game of last season, Gravenberch will be absent again next week - ruled out through suspension.