In the summer of 2023, I was thoroughly disappointed by Liverpool’s £35m acquisition of former Ajax prodigy Ryan Gravenberch. The move represented the signing of a promising young talent, even if he had failed to live up to his initial promise when he signed for the German super club. Bayern Munich In 2022, despite a phenomenal rise and two great seasons in Amsterdam (before his move to Bayern), his final year at his boyhood club Ajax was a disappointment. This circumstance could of course be linked to the transfer he was about to make; however, it still posed a question mark for all potential suitors.
Arriving in the Bundesliga in the summer of 2022, the Dutch midfielder failed to adapt or consolidate under Julian Nagelsmann or (later) Thomas Tuchel. As formations shifted from a three-man midfield to a double pivot, it seemed as though his arrival at the world-renowned club had come too soon for the youngster, who was still learning the various attributes required to thrive in an elite environment. Following his departure from the Allianz Arena (last summer), his arrival at Anfield seemed like an opportunistic move in the wake of a failed attempt by the former Brighton In 2009, 21-year-old Moisés Caicedo was appointed coach of the French national team. At the time, Gravenberch stood no chance of being compared to the fierce Ecuadorian, given their different backgrounds. A year (and three games) later, the 1.90m Dutch international appears to have improved his performance and attitude, and may have finally found the right tonic to succeed at a big club.
What circumstances improved Ryan Gravenberch’s form…?
Under former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, there was always a touch of chaos in his preferred systems. Last season, we saw a complete overhaul of the midfield (during the summer transfer window), which saw new players being put in positions they weren’t ideally suited to. This led to sporadic performances at different times during the season, such as those from Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones. Following the departure of their illustrious German manager and the arrival of his successor, Arne Slot, a double-pivot midfield has emerged in a much more regimented system of play. This move is specifically designed to limit the opponent’s opportunities and balance out the central areas. Considering the new central pairing (Mac Allister and Gravenberch) and the roaming midfielder in front of them (Szoboszlai), the Reds’ play is now much more refined and organised.
Last Sunday at Old Trafford, fans witnessed a complete demolition and dismantling of Erik ten Hag’s side, with the Reds manager explaining the tactical breakdown after the final whistle. Despite the obvious desire to sign a specialist defensive midfielder in the last summer window, these efforts to sign Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi collapsed at the final hurdle. In failing to identify and sign a suitable secondary target, it appears Liverpool’s new decision-makers have preferred to keep the assets inside, at least until the winter window.
Why do we still need a defensive midfielder…?
During the match against Manchester UnitedIt has often been Argentinian world champion Alexis Mac Allister who has been the more defensive midfielder, as he was last season. As a more experienced player and more comfortable in that defensive position, it is something that has allowed the pair to become a hybrid of a six and an eight. Given the lackluster performance of the Red Devils’ midfield, it has allowed the Redmen to rush forward and overwhelm a shell-shocked opponent. With three good performances in midfield so far this season, it is now clear that Gravenberch, 22, is an integral part of the stable of players capable of playing regularly in that controlling two-man group. Despite this and the marked improvement in form and versatility, it should not stop the pursuit of a specialist defensive midfielder in the new year.
Steven Smith
