Ryan Gravenberch has been a revelation for Liverpool this season. The Dutch midfielder looks like a player reborn under Arne Slot in more of a defensive midfield role.
Gravenberch had a difficult debut campaign with the Reds. There were bright moments but he struggled for consistency and game time. The midfield trio of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Gravenberch looked a little unbalanced when the World Cup winner anchored the team.
Read more: Gravenberch equals 12-year Premier League record
Slot’s decision to switch things up in the middle third has worked well for everyone.
Mac Allister is impressing as part of a double pivot alongside Gravenberch while Szoboszlai, despite people wanting more from the Hungary skipper, has been key to the new-look Liverpool attack, with and without the ball.
The standout player though, has been the No38.
Gravenberch dominates v Wolves
Gravenberch looks right at home at the base of the midfield. His 7.8 average FotMob rating can only be bettered by Mohamed Salah (8.15) and Luis Diaz (7.94), the two main goalscorers for the Reds. The Ajax academy graduate was named Man of the Match for Liverpool in recent victories over Manchester United, AC Milan and Wolves.
At Molineux on Saturday evening, Gravenberch equalled a 12-year Premier League record. He’s the first player since Tottenham’s Sandro to contest more than five duels with a 100% success rate, make three or more tackles with 100% success, and make 50+ passes with a 90% accuracy.
At a glance, the Reds weren’t at their fluid best against Gary O’Neil’s side last weekend. But they did deserve the win. They limited the hosts while carving out high-value opportunities. On another day, the same performance sees Liverpool romp to a much more comfortable win.
Despite a number of players struggling to impose themselves on Saturday, Gravenberch, once again, caught the eye with a dominant showing.
Liverpool wanted long-term Fabinho heir
With it being the norm now for the one-time Bayern Munich man, there’s a feeling that the 2019/20 Premier League champions have finally replaced Fabinho. The Brazilian destroyer left for the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023 and having missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, Wataru Endo was signed from VfB Stuttgart as a short-term solution.
The Japan international did a decent enough job during his debut season on Merseyside but he had limitations. Slot made it abundantly clear in the summer that he didn’t think Endo could play as his No6.
Al Ahly FC v Al Ittihad FC – FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 Fabinho defensive midfield of Al Ittihad and Brazil during the FIFA Club World Cup Saudi Arabia 2023 match between Al Ahly FC v Al Ittihad FC at King Abdullah Sports City on December 15, 2023 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jeddah Saudi Arabia PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xJosexBretonx originalFilename:breton-alahlyfc231215_npL1E.jpg
Liverpool needed a long-term heir to Fabinho.
Gravenberch isn’t a like-for-like alternative to the ex-Monaco man. For starters, he’s more progressive and press-resistant. When you look a little closer, the more apparent it becomes that he’s the Premier League’s heir to Patrick Vieira.
Vieira regen
Jamie Carragher, speaking on Sky Sports, said something similar after Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Manchester United.
“He’s almost Vieira-like. I didn’t want to get too carried away after the first two games considering the opposition, but I said this would be an acid test. He has certainly come through with flying colours, Gravenberch, in that role.”
Tim Sherwood also made the comparison when on the Kelly and Wrighty show.
“He looks like a defensive-minded, responsible footballer, I think he has all of the attributes to play that number six role. It looks like he owns the pitch. You talk about breaking lines with a pass, he breaks lines with movement,” Sherwood said.
“He has the whole package, when he needs to break it up he does, he controls the tempo of the game. Look at that, that is Patrick Vieira, that. A big boy, six foot three, they’ve stumbled upon a defensive midfield player who is enjoying the role, I think they have a wonderful midfield.
“You see those midfield players costing £100m, £90m, £80m over the years, he was relatively cheap.”
London, England, 27th April 2024. Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool and Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United challenge for the ball during the Premier League match at the London Stadium, London. Picture credit should read: Paul Terry / Sportimage EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or live services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. SPI-3108-0036
Pogba comparisons disrespectful
Previously, he’d been compared to an £89million midfielder by former Liverpool player Ryan Babel played with Gravenberch at Ajax. After the transfer to Anfield was finalised, Babel spoke to Redmen TV.
“Well it’s funny. When he first joined the first-team at Ajax us teammates would always compare him as the new Paul Pogba. He’s tall, he has a bit of what Pogba has. He’s tall, he can make metres. He can dribble with the ball if he needs to. He has a good pass and a good finish. Maybe not exactly the same, but similarities.”
The Pogba comparisons seem disrespectful. Gravenberch doesn’t need a team to be built around him to get the best out of him. And the Dutchman is much more consistent than the former Red Devil. But there are similarities between the two. Just as Gravenberch shares traits with the likes of Fabinho, Vieira and even Sergio Busquets.
From Bayern flop to Vieira’s heir in the space of 12 months. It has been some rise for the midfielder under his Dutch compatriot.
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