Ryan Gravenberch is emerging as the star of Liverpool’s Europa League campaign.
Which is a curious position for a player to find themselves in. The longer Gravenberch continues to turn in these eye-catchers on a Thursday night, the less likely he is to play in the next one.
After his 70 imperious minutes contributed significantly to a 5-1 thumping of Toulouse here, he has 3 Chances created, 4/4 Shot accuracy, 2/2 Successful dribbles. On defense, he has 2 Interceptions, 5 Recoveries and 6 Duels won
He ended with a substitution to enjoy a well deserved standing ovation from an appreciative Anfield crowd, there seems no way he isn’t soon firmly established as part of Jurgen Klopp first-choice midfield. Which does meаn his Europa League chances may dry up a touch.
His numbers were incredible but he’s not a player who just looks good on the page. He grabs your attention and holds it. He brings a necessary pace and directness to Liverpool’s midfield but allied with guile and elegance. His Bayern struggles already appear to be ancient history.
It was impossible to аrgue he didn’t deserve the goal he got tonight minutes before being awarded his own private ovation, even if the manner of it was rather comical.
In a moment of peak Darwin Nunez-ing, Darwin Nunez left Toulouse defenders and goalkeeper on their backs before somehow hitting the post in what would turn out to be one of the more elaborate assists you’ll ever see, the ball bouncing back to Gravenberch on the edge of the area to do the rest. Even here, Gravenberch’s running to be in position to capitalise on such an unlikely ricochet was notable.
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But really the standout moment was Gravenberch’s contribution to the goal Darwin did manage to score in the first half. Gravenberch ran the ball from halfway to the Toulouse penalty area. It was precisely the sort of drive so often lacking from Liverpool’s midfield during those stodgy spells last season when their football became ponderous and predictable
The 21-year-old joined the Anfield side from Bayern Munich in the summer for a reported fee of £34 million – a figure that appears to be a bargain.
Taking to social networks to praise the Dutch midfielder, one fan wrote: “35 million pounds for Ryan Gravenberch seems like a robbery.”
Another fan shared: “It was an honor to watch a master Gravenberch play. His innate ability to play football was shown to be extraordinary. We blindly stole someone from Bayern.”
The third person: “Ryan Gravenberch. MOTM. Ran the show again.”
A fourth person praised: “Gravenberch became the best midfielder itw after putting on a Liverpool shirt”
Everyone knew he was a player because of what he showed at Ajax. What was less sure, and what Liverpool gambled on, was whether that player could be relocated after the strugglе to adapt to life at Bayern Munich.
These are all huge European giants – whatever Ajax’s current wоes – and there was no guarantee Gravenberch would find Liverpool any more suitable a location than Bayern. But it’s all looking pretty sweet right now.
There’s a £100m footballer in there, and if the Europa League is what it takes to bring him out then maybe Liverpool spending a season outside their natural Champions League home is a price worth paying.