Arne Slot rules out two key Liverpool players for Aston Villa after confirming injury boost

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But the Reds boss has revealed Ryan Gravenberch is back in training and has a chance of returning ahead of a major week in his team's season.Gravenberch has missed the last three games having suffered a twisted ankle in the home defeat to Manchester United a fortnight ago.Isak has been absent having picked up a groin problem during the first half of the Champions League win at Eintracht Frankfurt three days later, while Jones limped off in the second half of last weekend's 3-2 Premier League loss at Brentford.READ MORE: Arne Slot to make major Liverpool changes as Ryan Gravenberch decision weighed upREAD MORE: Florian Wirtz reminds me of Luka Modric - look how Real Madrid's 'worst signing' worked outAnd while Slot doesn't expect to be with Isak and Jones on Saturday evening, he is increasingly confident Gravenberch could be involved.Speaking on Friday morning, he said: "Ryan trained yesterday, Isak and Jones didn't yet."Timescale? Let's wait and see where they are."Ryan trained yesterday and with us today and we'll make the call if he can start.

The other two 99.9% not in the squad."Hamstrung duo Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong remain out while defender Giovanni Leoni is sidelined for the remainder of the season after ACL surgery.Liverpool following the Villa game with a Champions League clash at home to Real Madrid before travelling to title contenders Manchester City on Sunday.Slot chose to make 10 changes when naming a hugely understrength team in Wednesday's 3-0 home League Cup fourth round loss to Crystal Palace, with Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Conor Bradley, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike not in the matchday squad despite being available.But the Reds boss has dismissed suggestions his squad lacks depth."We have enough to play the games but I have to take care of a few of them, why I made the decision not to play seven or eight," he said."I am happy with the team, the quality we have and convinced by the strategy and policy we have. But that makes it the issue, not all of them had a proper pre-season or have been injured, so when three or four are injured you go back to 15 or 16."I am convinced 20 is enough but we are struggling to keep them fit for obvious reasons."Alex came to us September 1 and it has been harder to keep them fit, so if a few aren't available it comes to the same players.

But we've had a few away games with only a few days rest in between. No excuses, before people say..."We have to manage the situation, three games in seven or eight days.