Ryan Gravenberch is absent from Liverpool's Community Shield match as his partner, Cindy Peroti, is about to give birth to their first child. The 22-year-old midfielder, who recently joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich, was eligible to play but was understandably left out of the squad to be with his partner during this important personal moment.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot opted not to risk Gravenberch’s involvement in the game, reflecting the club’s support for the player’s family commitments. This decision meant that Liverpool’s midfield in the match against Crystal Palace was composed of Dominic Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, forming the double pivot without Gravenberch.

Alongside Gravenberch, left-back Kostas Tsimikas was also absent from the Community Shield squad. Tsimikas is still recovering from injury and therefore not yet match-fit to feature in the game. Both absences were notable but expected due to the respective circumstances.

The Community Shield lineup demonstrated Liverpool’s squad depth, with Arne Slot including other available players to cover key positions for the season curtain-raiser. Despite missing Gravenberch, Liverpool entered the match with a competitive team setup.

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In summary, Ryan Gravenberch missed the Community Shield not due to injury or tactical reasons, but for a significant personal event, highlighting the club's consideration of player welfare beyond the pitch.