Mohamed Salah got an assist and a superb goal – his 49th in the Champions League – while Alexis Mac Allister scored his first of the season, but once again it was Ryan Gravenberch who caught the eye for Liverpool in their hard-fought 2-0 win over Bologna.
Operating in a defensive midfield role, but often winning possession, starting attacks and surging forwards, 22-year-old Gravenberch continued his remarkable start to the season after only beginning 12 Premier League games under Jurgen Klopp in the last campaign.
But under fellow Dutchman Arne Slot, Gravenberch is now looking a bargain for the £35m they paid Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.
He had been man of the match in the 3-1 win at AC Milan and again in the 2-1 victory at Wolves and Gravenberch was superb once more.
In a match played with a fantastic atmosphere at Anfield, Gravenberch’s performance including a match-high 18 passes in the final third, a passing accuracy of 91.1%, three successful dribbles and four duels won, while he also gained possession nine times.
“I was delighted with him,” said boss Slot, who has now won eight of his first nine matches in charge – the first Liverpool manager to do so.
“Ryan was again outstanding. I don’t say that to players at half-time because there is still 45 minutes to go but I said after the game ‘again, big performance’.”
Top of the league, two wins from two in the Champions League and into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup, what a start it has been for Slot since replacing Jurgen Klopp.
