Gravenberch backed to solve Klopp's "puzzle" and become key Liverpool player

23 October 2023 , 07:36

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Gravenberch backed to solve Klopp's "puzzle" and become key Liverpool player

Former Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden believes Ryan Gravenberch will become an "important" player at Anfield following his move from Bayern Munich.

Gravenberch made his first Premier League start for the Reds in their 2-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton, having been slowly introduced into the team after a disappointing campaign in Germany where he made just three Bundesliga starts.

And Zenden, who notably started for Liverpool in the 2007 Champions League final, is confident Gravenberch will "gradually improve" once he understands the role Klopp wants him to play. "All players new to the Premier League need time to get used to the amount of games and the intensity with which they play," Zenden told Soccernews.nl.

"Gravenberch will gradually improve. He is definitely going to be important, but the question is in what role. More conservative? Or with freedom to go forward? At the moment, Alexis Mac Allister has the conservative role.

"Gravenberch is a player who, from his Ajax DNA, wants to push the game forward and pop up in spaces. For the coach it is a puzzle to fit him in, but I am sure Gravenberch can be important for Liverpool with his quality."

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Klopp has previously hailed Gravenberch's quality, but warned earlier this month that the midfielder's lack of game time at Bayern meant fans would have to be patient with him. "He is technically incredibly good, the first touch is insane," Klopp said.

"The speed-up is top-class. Really good shooter. He's a really good player. Yes, he came late and yes, we play slightly different and yes, that needs time to adapt and that’s what we can give him, thank God.

Ryan Gravenberch made his first Premier League start for Liverpool in the Merseyside derby (Daniel Chesterton/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

"And he's completely happy with it and is in the group and he realised in each training session that he gets treated exactly like all the others if he starts or not, he gets even a [bit] more information in specific moments.

"He can see what the other boys do in similar positions, he can watch it, he learns from it, he's a smart boy. So, everything goes in the right direction, that's really, really nice to see. It's good – long may it continue. Very important for us."

Liverpool will be back in action on Thursday when they take on Toulouse in the Europa League, having already picked up victories over LASK and Union Saint-Gilloise. They are then set to host Nottingham Forest at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday.

Matthew Cooper