“Over the last couple of seasons, Ryan Gravenberch has been Liverpool’s bellwether player. When the Dutchman has been on form, Liverpool have been on a title-winning level. When Gravenberch has looked tired and struggled to make a positive impact, Liverpool have often been wretched. There’s a chicken-and-egg debate to be had there, but Gravenberch was magnificent in the first half of 2024-25 in a surprise deep position as Liverpool almost had the title sewn up by the turn of the year, then slowed down as Liverpool coasted to the title. Last season, when Arne Slot was trying to integrate more forward-thinking players in various positions — Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak — Liverpool lacked balance, and Gravenberch’s naturally attack-minded instincts often felt misplaced. …”
NYT/ATH (Video)