Liverpool dealt early blow next season with key player to miss MULTIPLE games

Liverpool will begin their Premier League title defence without one important star after he picked up a suspension on the final day of the season.

The Reds lifted their second Premier League title after a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Anfield, waving goodbye to Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It was far from a vintage performance, but Mohamed Salah got back on the scoresheet and the home crowd were in high spirits.

However, one player has made the start of the next campaign slightly harder after picking up a straight red card.

Ryan Gravenberch was handed a red for fouling Daichi Kamada on the halfway line to stop a counter-attack.

The Liverpool midfielder was the last man and stopped Kamada in his tracks with a high challenge after 68 minutes.

He had already been on a yellow for simulation but, after being handed a straight red, is set to miss the first three games of next season.

That will exclude the Community Shield, Mail Sport understands, and will therefore impact the first three games of their title defence.

This was Gravenberch's first sending-off in the Premier League. The 23-year-old has enjoyed an improved campaign at Anfield which has seen him become a midfield fulcrum for Arne Slot, playing all bar one of the side's Premier League games.

Liverpool do not yet know who their first few opponents will be as the Premier League 2025-26 fixtures will only be released on June 18.

Gravenberch is likely to return to a changed Liverpool side after Slot hinted that the Reds will have a 'big summer'.

The manager said: 'It would be weird if I played completely differently because we have just won the league, but we have to adapt.

'You always have to try to become better. We have to improve with these players and if there is a possibility to strengthen with the other players too. Next season the competition will be better as well.'