I love what Ryan Gravenberch is doing - but Liverpool still need a specialist No.6
No club in the Premier League made fewer transfers than Liverpool during the summer window. But the decision of new sporting director Richard Hughes and head coach Arne Slot to keep the club's powder largely dry appears to be paying off.
The Reds sit top of the Premier League table with five wins from six after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Wolves at Molineux on Saturday night.
It was a match in which Ryan Gravenberch once again stood out. The 22-year-old Netherlands international has been a revelation under his compatriot Slot, making the No.6 position his own.
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But it's a position that may not have been his had Liverpool been able to do a deal for their top transfer target Martin Zubimendi. As is now well documented, the Real Sociedad and Spain star made a U-turn on his decision to swap San Sebastian for Merseyside, and Gravenberch has certainly taken his chance.
Indeed, his midfield partnership with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai has been one of the key reasons behind the Reds' impressive start to the season, which has also saw them win 3-1 in the Champions League at AC Milan and book their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 success at home to West Ham United.
Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson said before the win at Wolves that Gravenberch is an upgrade on Gini Wijnaldum, the Dutchman who played such a key role for Slot's predecessor Jurgen Klopp, and that his former club had the best midfield in the Premier League on form.
Owen Hargreaves, who won the Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United, is also raving about Gravenberch.
But the ex-England international believes the Reds still need a new No.6 and that getting one could be the difference between silverware or not.
“He has done brilliantly well, but he is not a defensive midfield player, which is fine because when you are playing teams like this which you will beat,” said Hargreaves of Gravenberch, who signed for Liverpool from Bayern Munich last summer.
“He is 190cm. He is 22 years old. He has got everything. But he is not a specialist defensive midfield player. There is a difference. I think he is a brilliant midfield player, he is a box-to-box, depending on who you play.
“But I think in a big game, in a one-off game, to go and win the Premier League or the Champions League, I think you need a specialist.
“Liverpool showed that with Fabinho or Manchester City showed that with Rodri. I still think they will address his position. But credit Gravenberch, he has grabbed his chance and that’s all you need.
“He said ‘what’s different?’ And he said ‘just play me’. That’s what you need as a player, you need someone to trust you and he has proven it.
“I still think tougher tests will come - I love what he is doing, but I still think they will go and get somebody.”
Liverpool return to Champions League action on Wednesday when they welcome AC Milan's Serie A rivals Bologna to Anfield.