07 February 2024 , 06:00
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Liverpool's desire to add Ryan Gravenberch in the summer was no secret with his Bayern Munich career stalling.
It took until deadline day to get the deal over the line but Jurgen Klopp was certainly happy with the £35million capture, which concluded a transfer window that had seen the Reds midfield transformed. Alexis Mac Allsiter and Dominik Szoboszlai were the other two big names signings.
Now, more than halfway into the season, it's fair to say Gravenberch has considerably more to prove that the other two. Klopp was spotted ranting at the Dutchman during Sunday's defeat at Arsenal after he allowed the opposition to play around his attempted press before the opening goal was scored.
The Liverpool boss cut an animated figure in the dugout and Gravenberch's argument didn't get him very far. Tipped for huge things when he was at Ajax under Erik ten Hag, the 21-year-old must prove he won't be the next Dutch talent to miss out on fulfilling his potential.
Gravenberch has only started eight times thus far in the Premier League, appearing from the bench on more occasions. Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have both made themselves fixtures in the starting XI when fit, but the Hungarian is now facing a spell on the sidelines.
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One man's misfortune could prove to be another man's opportunity - and one Gravenberch needs to take. Wataru Endo is due back from the Asia Cup whilst Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones continue to be viable options for Klopp, leaving Gravenberch's starting berth far from certain.
The German manager did confess that the Dutchman's inconsistencies were no surprise given he rarely featured last term and seemingly had no such issue. “Ryan is still the talent, 21, we forget that always and he didn’t play much last year," Klopp said recently.
The midfielder endured a lack of minutes last term and is looking to get his confidence back“He had outstanding performances where he was man of the match for us internally and other matches where you think ‘where was he actually today?’ That is completely normal in development. The boys like each other, similar age group besides Wataru, obviously, and they have a good relationship and that helps as well.”
Szoboszlai's injury looks to have cost him a spot in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley, which presents Liverpool with a first trophy opportunity of the season. That void in midfield is one Gravenberch will hope to fill, but the player himself is still finding his feet and his belief.
He admitted earlier this season that minutes were key to his confidence: “For me, yes. Of course, you have to play well, but if you get minutes and do your own thing, what you’re good at, then of course it will come back.”
Jurgen Klopp insists its natural for Ryan Gravenberch to have mixed performancesGravenberch turned down the chance to follow Ten Hag to Manchester United when he signed for Bayern 18 months ago. He's still found himself in the north west of England, but playing in a team who are much further along in their development.
Klopp has always been known as a man who inspires players to reach levels they otherwise wouldn't. The list of players who've left Liverpool for pastures new and failed to hit their previous heights is a long one. Gravenberch is likely to get the nod more often than not over the coming month, which may prove the making - or not - of his time at Liverpool.