Liverpool 2-0 Bologna: Ryan Gravenberch impresses in Champions League tie at Anfield

While the goals of Diaz and Salah have grabbed the headlines as the Reds have gone top of the Premier League, reached the last 16 of the Carabao Cup and made a perfect start to their Champions League campaign, Gravenberch has been a key part of the team and made a case for being the most improved player.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find another player who’s gone from making very little impact, to all of a sudden looking like he should absolutely hold down a regular place in the starting line-up,” said BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Mike Hughes.

“In his first season with Liverpool, there were decent contributions in some matches but not enough of them to convince Jurgen Klopp that he could nail down a place in his first 11.

“Arne Slot may only have been here for the footballing equivalent of five minutes, but already he’s had a transformative effect on his Anfield career.”

Gravenberch has operated as part of a double pivot – something that has given Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai more freedom to attack.

“The new Reds manager sees playing Ryan Gravenberch as a deeper lying midfielder in the number six role as crucial,” added Hughes. “At 6ft 2in (1.87m) he’s taller than a typical central midfielder, but he reads the game well enough to spot the potential for danger and covers the ground quickly.

“Those qualities enable him to intercept the ball in that key central area. His use of the ball has also improved markedly. His passing has become much more accurate and therefore he’s able to get Liverpool back on the front foot immediately.”

Jordan Chamberlain, editor of Empire of the Kop website,, external called Gravenberch “the best midfielder in the country this season” and added: “Liverpool didn’t buy a new number six this summer, much to the dismay of the fanbase.

“But if we had done and they had performed as well as Gravenberch, we would be losing the plot. The Dutchman has been sensational.”