Gravenberch, Key Player at Liverpool: The Dutch Midfielder Shines

In an exciting match where Liverpool defeated Everton 2-1, Ryan Gravenberch proved to be a key player for the team.In the final minutes, with Liverpool under pressure, Gravenberch recovered the ball in his own area and assisted Mohamed Salah, quickly initiating an attack that put Everton in trouble.This moment, although not the most striking of his performance, reaffirms his indisputable importance in the team.

From Reserve to Essential

When he arrived at Liverpool from Bayern Munich for 34 million pounds in 2022, Gravenberch was considered a player. Currently, he has established himself as a key player, like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, in Arne Slot’s scheme.On Saturday, the 23-year-old scored a spectacular goal and assisted Hugo Ekitike, becoming the youngest player to score and assist for Liverpool in a Merseyside derby in the Premier League.In addition, he tied the team record for rebounds (seven) and was second in completed passes (47).

• Gravenberch: A player who has become a key piece for Liverpool.

After the break, Gravenberch had less freedom to attack, as Everton intensified their pressure and narrowed the gap with a goal from Idrissa Gueye. However, Gravenberch remained firm in midfield, contributing to maintain Liverpool’s perfect record in the Premier League, with five wins in five games.Gravenberch’s brilliance did not surprise Liverpool fans. Last season, only Salah and Van Dijk played more minutes in the Premier League. After only 12 starts in his debut season under Jurgen Klopp, Gravenberch became an indispensable player under Slot’s management.His goal against Everton was the result of an aggressive start by Liverpool in the derby, with a powerful shot that beat Jordan Pickford. Then, he assisted Ekitike to put Liverpool 2-0 up in 29 minutes.Despite their initial dominance, Slot’s team failed to secure the match, and Gueye scored for Everton. Although Liverpool managed to maintain the lead, the lack of a clean sheet in the four matches where they led by two goals is concerning.

1:25 Is Ekitike the ‘real surprise’ of Liverpool this season? Mark Ogden discusses Hugo Ekitike’s surprising contribution to Liverpool so far this season.Despite this, Liverpool has won three matches in seven days, thanks in large part to Gravenberch’s performance in midfield.

“Maybe not off the field, but on the field he likes the spotlight,” Slot said about the midfielder in his post-match press conference. “I was planning to take him off after 60 minutes, but then we conceded the goal. I think he took the spotlight mainly for the offensive things he does, but I also see how much he runs without the ball, how many times he is there to help Conor (Bradley) when he is in the 2-on-1 situation.

Arne Slot

“He has done very well and now perhaps he has been a little more in the spotlight because he has his goals and his assist. But even if he didn’t have them, he would still be playing very well.”After failing to score in the Premier League last season, Gravenberch already has two goals in the competition this season, including one in the 3-2 victory over Newcastle United last month.These numbers demonstrate that he is a player at the peak of his performance, under a coach who knows how to exploit his talent.The midfielder’s father, Ryan Gravenberch Sr., said: “We are people who believe in God, and we believe that God sent us to Arne and Liverpool. Obviously, he [Slot] is Dutch, so when he explains something to Ryan, he can understand it very clearly. He communicates superbly. The main thing he has told Ryan is: ‘I’m going to make you play and it’s up to you to keep playing.’ He was very clear about it and that has worked for both sides.”Without a doubt, if his current form is any indication, Gravenberch and Liverpool seem like a perfect match.