Few Liverpool supporters could have predicted the instant impact that Arne Slot’s summer appointment would have had at Anfield.
Following the resignation of beloved manager Jürgen Klopp, who left the position after almost nine years in charge, the Dutchman had enormous shoes to fill.
During his tenure in England, the German won every major award, including their first Premier League title and another Champions League victory.
Slot has adapted to life on Merseyside with ease, winning 14 of his 16 games as manager, losing only to Nottingham Forest and attracting Arsenal, another title contender.
Two of the players who have been dominating at the top end of the field are Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, who have combined for 21 goals and assists in the first 11 games.
But under the 46-year-old, one player has elevated his game to the next level and established himself as a consistent starter.
Ryan Gravenberch’s 2024–2025 Liverpool stats
In the summer of 2023, midfielder Ryan Gravenberch moved from Bayern Munich to the Reds for £34.2 million, giving Klopp’s team much-needed depth.
However, he was never utilised as a regular starter under the former boss, only starting 12 times and often behind Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slot, a fellow countryman, has been named in the starting eleven in every Premier League game since his appointment, which has significantly changed his fortunes and contributed to the Reds’ early-season success.
Gravenberch has won 70% of the tackles he has entered since the beginning of the season and has an 89% pass accuracy rate.
He has been the ideal deep-lying choice for Slot’s 4-3-3 style, frequently sitting in to perform the grunt work while letting the men in front of him wreak havoc in the last third.
However, if the hierarchy completes a statement signing during the next transfer window, he might find it difficult to hold onto his starting position.
Liverpool targeting a move for their own Rodri
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are battling Arsenal over a potential January move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Swedish midfielder Hugo Larsson.
The 20-year-old has endured a rapid rise in recent months with the Bundesliga side, featuring ten times so far this season, scoring twice from the centre of the park.
The report goes on to state that boss Slot is targeting reinforcements to his midfield despite his impressive start to life at Anfield, looking for an upgrade on Endo, who could be set to leave.
Larsson has been compared to Manchester City ace and Ballon d’Or winner Rodri by the Bundesliga’s website – a real high heap of praise for such a young talent:
Larsson’s natural position is at the base of midfield, where he can defend his defense. Larsson is not just a skilled breaker-up-of-play but also technically capable of threading lethal through balls and breaking lines.
‘Larsson’s 6’1″ frame gives him great presence and his athleticism is eye-catching, underlined by his rapid turn of pace – a unique trait for a player often seen shielding those further back and one which suggests the 18-year-old could easily play as either a No.6 or No.8.
Larsson’s game includes elements of Spanish holding midfielder Rodri, but it also has echoes of Rodri’s Manchester City teammate Kevin de Bruyne, who was a standout player for both Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen in Germany’s top division. Fans of Sweden and Eintracht will be thrilled by this pairing.
Analyzing their respective divisions’ statistics from the previous season, however, makes the comparison seem plausible, since the Reds stand to gain a highly skilled superstar if they close a trade.
The “incredible” Swede, as dubbed by Sport1-journalist Christopher Michel, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but did register more successful tackles – a crucial figure for a ball-winning player.
Larsson also averaged more interceptions and clearances per 90, having the ability to add a different dimension to Slot’s side with the youngster having the potential to get even better under his guidance.
Whilst it’s unknown how much the star will cost this winter, his talent is evident for all to see, with this just the start of his professional career at the top level.
The Anfield may face tough competition from Arsenal for his signature, but if they are to further bolster their title credentials this campaign, a deal for the Swede is a must this January. Gravenberch might need to be careful.