Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown cannot believe how good Ryan Gravenberch is after the Dutchman delivered another top-notch display to beat Bournemouth.
When Liverpool signed the 22-year-old from Bayern Munich before the start of last season, it was seen by some as a risk. The midfielder was struggling to forge a place for himself in the Bayern squad.
Jurgen Klopp brought him to Anfield and while he struggled to become a nailed-on starter, he has come into his own under Arne Slot this season.
When Liverpool failed to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer transfer window, many supporters were worried about the consequences it would have on the 2024/25 season.
That was until Gravenberch had a few games in the role under his belt. Since then, he has emerged as one of the best in the position in Europe. He’s been so good that his penchant for allowing the ball to run past him before turning his man has become known as his trademark move.
Ryan Gravenberch compared to Steven Gerrard after Bournemouth masterclass
Gravenberch was imperious in front of the Liverpool back four as his tidy possession and diligent defensive efforts helped the Reds make light work of a dangerous Bournemouth side.
His pass accuracy was 93%, according to Sofascore, playing two key passes, including some sumptuous long-range switches.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Martin Keown praised the former Ajax star and even compared him to Liverpool icon and captain Steven Gerrard.
He said: “This fella is the most improved player in a Liverpool shirt, this is a Gerrard pass, Hollywood ball, a 30-yard raking pass to change the variations of the attack.”
In addition to his top-class passing, Gravenberch also won nine of his 13 ground duels, completed four interceptions and made SEVEN tackles. He was only beaten with a dribble once.
Gravenberch is developing into a truly special player
Having seen the Dutch midfielder in the no.6 role for several months now, it’s safe to say that Liverpool no longer need to sign a specialist defensive midfielder.
Slot has everything he could want in a defensive midfielder in Gravenberch.
Even better, he has the unique opportunity of being able to coach him everything he needs to flourish without having to coach him out of bad habits learned from other managers.
At 22, Gravenberch is still very receptive to new ideas. It’s scary to imagine what he will be capable of in a few years. It’s important to acknowledge that he has been playing as a no.8 for his entire football career until this season.
Liverpool are truly blessed to have such a naturally gifted player on their hands.