Ryan Gravenberch has already scored twice for Liverpool this season after failing to score during the Reds’ title-winning campaign
Arne Slot, head coach of Liverpool, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield (Image: Getty Images)
Ryan Gravenberch might have played a starring role for Liverpool last season as they won the Premier League title. But there was one thing that frustrated the Dutchman throughout the campaign.
After Martin Zubimendi rejected a move to Anfield in the summer, Arne Slot turned to his compatriot as his first-choice number six following his own arrival at Anfield. And he wasted no time in rewarding such faith.
Making 49 appearances in all competitions, with 37 coming in the Premier League, he started every outing for the Reds and played a decisive role in them being crowned champions. His form did not go unnoticed, with the midfielder picking up the Premier League Young Player of the Season award and also being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
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But lining up at number six came at a cost for Gravenberch as he failed to get on the scoresheet throughout the season.
He might have finished the campaign with a winner’s medal around his neck, but, on the eve of lifting the Premier League trophy, he admitted his failure to score had annoyed him.
“Yes (it annoys me),” he conceded to the ECHO and other reporters back in May. “Hopefully (I’m on free-kicks), maybe a penalty.
“I had a conversation with Dominik (Szoboszlai) the other day before we played against Brighton. We were in the warm-up, you know, and I had some good finishes.
“He said, ‘I have a feeling you will score today’. I said, ‘hopefully, I have to score one’. So hopefully against Crystal Palace I can score.
“Yeah, I think it’s just a position (why I haven’t scored), because if the other two midfielders go, I can’t go. So I have to say, I’m not often in the 18-yard box, but maybe against Crystal Palace, we will see.
“I am not naturally a defensive midfielder. I also like to drive forward with the ball. It’s been good so far.
“Obviously I didn’t play a lot in that position before but this season that position has made me who I am now. I am really looking forward to playing there now.”
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Alas, Gravenberch was unable to get on the scoresheet against Crystal Palace. Instead, he found himself sent off for a second bookable offence after 68 minutes against the Eagles.
But a delayed start to the season due to suspension meant the Dutchman actually ended his lengthy 53-game goal drought next time out – albeit coming three months later – away at Newcastle United with a 25-yard piledriver.
Fast forward three games and Liverpool are five points clear at the top of the table, having won all five matches so far.
And Gravenberch played a pivotal role in their latest win, returning both a goal and an assist in the Reds’ Merseyside derby victory over Everton.
Running onto Mohamed Salah’s lofted pass into the box, he beat Jordan Pickford with a stunning half-volley to open the scoring before threading through for Hugo Ektike to score Liverpool’s second. And this came only days after assisting the Egyptian with a smart one-two against Atletico Madrid.
Having recorded four goals and six assists from his first 87 appearances for the Reds, the Dutchman now has two goals and two assists from just five outings this season!
While he might have bemoaned his lack of final third contributions as Liverpool won the league, it has something that has already been addressed in emphatic fashion this year.
Gravenberch has pointed to being handed greater freedom to get forward when explaining his upturn in goals and assists.
Ryan Gravenberch produced a goal and assist in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Everton(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“It’s the coach that gives me the confidence,” he explained to TNT Sports after the final whistle. “This season we have more freedom in the midfield.
“Last season I was only on the six, like deep, deep. Now I can go more forward, which you saw today. My strength is also there.
“I’m happy with that and also happy with the goal. Last season, I think I didn’t even score. So, of course this season I want more goals and assists. I’m really happy.”
Slot would put such a change down to ‘the evolution of a team’, saying: “You constantly try to do different things. You try to keep what’s really good but other teams try to adjust to us as well, so we need to constantly evolve.
“And apart from that, we have different players now than we had last season, so sometimes you adjust a little bit also by the quality of the players you have now compared to the ones we had last season.
“I wouldn’t say [he has] freedom but he has the moments that he can help the attack – but that has a lot to do with the way the other team presses. He has a bit more freedom.
“I think he has taken the spotlight mainly because of the attacking things he does, but I also see how much he runs off the ball, how many times he is there to help out Conor [Bradley] when he is in a two-v-one situation and the same for Dominik Szoboszlai.
“The amount of sprints they make to help Conor, but Mo Salah as well – but because of that we can leave Mo a bit more forward and get the best out of Mo also.
“He has done very well and now it’s maybe a bit more in the spotlight because of these goals and assists, but even if he didn’t have that he would have still played really well.
“But it’s also nice that after six games there is something more positive than last season.”
Gravenberch has started the season in stunning form, and while he made headlines for his defensive play last season, this year he has wasted no time in making his presence felt in the one area where he had fallen short on an individual basis – even if he was the only one to be frustrated
‘Really happy’ as a result, Liverpool will hope that such returns continue with the Dutchman poised to again play a decisive role as they look to defend their Premier League crown.