One Liverpool ace is ‘going to be some player’ when he ‘gets properly up to the speed with English football’, that’s according to journalist Dominic King.

The Netherlands international was handed another start by Jurgen Klopp last night as the Reds defeated LASK 4-0 at Anfield in the Europa League to secure their passage through to the knockout stages with a game to spare.

The 21-year-old showed glimpses of his potential against the Austrian outfit and is certainly pushing for a regular starting spot under our German tactician.

The Daily Mail writer, writing on his X page, is excited by the former Ajax midfielder’s potential following his summer move from Bayern Munich.

When Ryan Gravenberch gets properly up to the speed with English football and physically adjusted to how Liverpool play over 90 minutes, he’s going to be some player. It’s not all there yet – he’s just had blast from Jurgen Klopp – but you can tell it’s going to arrive.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) November 30, 2023

READ MORE: ‘Best display of the season’ – Pearce says ‘exceptional’ Liverpool player ‘looked the part’ against LASK

Gravenberch was one of four midfielders signed in the summer as Klopp completed an overhaul in the middle of the park.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have nailed down regular starting spots but the likes of Wataru Endo, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliot are all competing alongside our new No. 38 for the third and final spot in the engine room.

The Dutchman is a rather unique player in the sense that he’s a powerful dribbler of the ball and someone who can beat his mean seemingly with ease.

Following a number of impressive performances since moving from Bayern it’s somewhat surprising that Thomas Tuchel was willing to let the dynamic midfielder leave the club.

He looks like someone who has a bright future ahead of him and we look forward to seeing him continue to develop under Klopp and Co.

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Cody Gakpo has shared his admiration for one of Liverpool’s latest summer signings.

Ryan Gravenberch has caught the eye in training and games for his ‘really good’ control of the ball and ‘outstanding’ receiving.

“I think he is a really good player, he is someone who is really good and comfortable with the ball,” the Dutchman spoke of his compatriot in the pre-LASK presser (as relayed by liverpoolfc.com). “[His] receiving is outstanding, and he can turn and run with the ball, he can play good passes as well.”

The 21-year-old has been one of several fan favourites since his arrival from Bayern Munich in the summer, making a quick impression despite his limited minutes in Germany.

READ MORE: ‘Bosses are convinced’: Liverpool target could be Klopp’s next big signing but Bayern might get there first – Plettenberg

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Can we give Bayern more money?

Genuinely, we’re feeling a little bad about our daylight robbery!

The former Bundesliga ace, whilst yet to nail down a consistent place in the starting-XI (although this is mainly down to his latest injury), has been an impressive operator in Europe and domestically.

It was Gravenberch’s driving run in midfield, galloping past the gold standard of holding midfielders in Rodri, for the counter that produced Liverpool’s equalising goal against Manchester City that was his latest superb contribution.

With Curtis Jones enjoying perhaps not his best game in the famous red shirt, it leaves the manager with quite the selection headache for the left midfield role.

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Ryan Gravenberch had to settle for a spot on the bench for Liverpool’s trip to the Etihad on Saturday but the Dutchman made an impressive impact when he entered the fray in the second half.

Jurgen Klopp opted to start Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister alongside the somewhat surprise inclusion of Academy graduate Curtis Jones.

Our No. 17 showed glimpses of what he’s capable of but was often caught in possession after holding onto the ball for too long in dangerous areas of the pitch.

READ MORE: (Video) Alexander-Arnold silenced plenty of his critics with impressive performance at the Etihad

Klopp completed an overhaul of his midfield in the summer meaning he now has more options than ever to select from in the engine room.

Gravenberch, who has already started seven games for the Reds this term, will now be pushing to be a regular in our starting XI after returning to fitness following a recent knock.

The Netherlands international has the ability to beat a man and make things happen with his strong, powerful running and he played a big role in the build-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s leveller yesterday.

Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Cody Gakpo are three other players looking to earn more regular game time in the coming weeks as the hectic Christmas period approaches.

Check our No. 38’s best-bits from yesterday’s 1-1 draw below via @LFC_ERYAN on X:

Ryan Gravenberch vs City pic.twitter.com/wcTgKl80nY

— E4 (@LFC_ERYAN) November 25, 2023

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Daniel Sturridge lauded one decision taken by Jurgen Klopp early in the second half during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.

There were 54 minutes on the clock when, with the Reds trailing, the manager made a double substitution. Diogo Jota’s withdrawal was enforced due to a muscular injury, with Luis Diaz taking his place, although it was the other change which drew praise from the former Anfield striker.

Ryan Gravenberch was introduced to replace Curtis Jones, and the Sky Sports pundit felt that it was a telling intervention by the 56-year-old.

Speaking on analysis for the broadcaster, Sturridge said: “The change with Gravenberch I thought was very influential in the game and helped them get a result. I like the way he drove with the ball, manipulating it.”

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool must ‘wait’ to discover extent of Jota and Alisson body blows

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The bare statistics would suggest that Jones actually had a better day than the Dutchman – as per Sofascore, the Scouser had a superior passing success rate (86% to 78%), won more duels (two v zero) and completed more dribbles (one v zero).

However, Gravenberch was generally more proactive in possession than the 22-year-old, with his determination to get forward playing a part in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late equaliser.

The double change came at an ideal time for Liverpool, who had a greater impetus after the Dutch midfielder and Diaz were introduced.

Substitutions can be pivotal in teams earning a positive result or slumping to a negative one, and like Sturridge says, Klopp’s decision to call upon the ex-Bayern Munich ace early in the second half had the desired effect.

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Didi Hamann has praised one Liverpool player for quickly becoming ‘an integral part’ of Jurgen Klopp’s side, managing to put ‘a messed-up year’ behind him.

Ryan Gravenberch was the last of the Reds’ four summer signings, joining only a couple of hours before the transfer deadline, and has impressed with his performances so far at Anfield.

He’s already had as many Premier League starts for Jurgen Klopp’s side as he made in the Bundesliga in just over a year at his previous club Bayern Munich (WhoScored), with the 21-year-old keen to make up for lost time.

Speaking to German outlet TZ, Hamann said: “Gravenberch is doing it outstandingly so far. It’s almost unbelievable that he was barely used at Bayern under two managers. People always used to ask me what it was like. I couldn’t say because he never played for Bayern. Now in Liverpool you can see what he can do.

“Gravenberch has a good physical presence, a decent finish and also a certain pace. When you see him at Liverpool you really wonder why he didn’t play a role at Bayern.

“After what had been a messed-up year for him, it was clear that he wanted to make a fresh start. From my point of view, he seems to be a good character. I can’t imagine that he allowed himself to be hanged in Munich. And now he is an integral part of a class team at Liverpool.”

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When looking at how Gravenberch has performed so far at Liverpool, it does beg the question as to why he was routinely overlooked by both Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel at Bayern.

It wasn’t until the Merseyside derby last month that the Dutchman made his first Premier League start (WhoScored), but he’d just been beginning to nail down a consistent berth until a minor injury ruled him out of the win over Brentford just over the international break.

With almost a full midfield at Klopp’s disposal for the trip to Manchester City today, apart from long-term absentees Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic, the 21-year-old faces greater competition to be included among the starting line-up this afternoon.

Still, at least he’s been getting a fairer crack of the whip for Liverpool than he ever had at Bayern, and if he can keep building upon his displays in his first three months at Anfield, the Allianz Arena hierarchy must surely be questioning the decision to sell him for a modest £34m (The Times).

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Liverpool fans are hoping that this weekend will bring with it a huge win against Manchester City and the return of one man will be a big boost.

Thanks to a post on the club’s X account, we can see that Ryan Gravenberch is back after missing the games against Toulouse and Brentford.

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Although everyone tends to dislike an international break, the chance for our No.38 to have more rest and seemingly be back in contention for our next Premier League clash – is a big positive.

Let’s see if Jurgen Klopp, who described the midfielder as an ‘exceptional talent’ (via liverpoolfc.com), will use the former Bayern Munich man in a massive game in Manchester.

You can view the image of Gravneberch via @LFC on X:

Afternoon, Ryan

Preparations for #MCILIV start now pic.twitter.com/t74tXNd5QG

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 23, 2023

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Stephen Warnock has suggested that Liverpool fans have yet to see the best of one player at Anfield due to his large period of inactivity over the past year.

The last of the Reds’ four summer signings was Ryan Gravenberch, who joined in the closing hours of transfer deadline day after an abortive year-and-a-bit at Bayern Munich where he started just three Bundesliga games (WhoScored).

The £150,000-per-week midfielder (Capology) has already equalled that tally in the Premier League after just two months (WhoScored), and has generally impressed when selected by Jurgen Klopp, although one former LFC player believes the Dutchman will improve even further with more regular game-time.

Speaking on NBC Sports‘ The 2 Robbies Podcast, Warnock said of the 21-year-old: “He’s young and inexperienced, but I also think there’s a side where he’s just getting used to playing again.

“He’s had a year out of playing at Bayern Munich. That’s a long time in football and even your body getting up to speed, he probably didn’t have a full pre-season because he was a bit in limbo. You sort of drop your standards because you’re feeling a bit sorry for yourself.

“I think there’s a side where he’ll get better in time, but I do like him. He’s more of an advanced centre-midfielder, loves getting on the half turn, drives with the ball so so well.”

While Gravenberch hasn’t quite made himself a regular at Liverpool just yet, he does appear to be getting a fairer crack of the whip than what he had at Bayern.

It must be kept in mind that he’s still just 21 and has only been at Anfield for a couple of months, so he couldn’t have been expected to revolutionise the midfield on his own, especially after struggling for game-time in Munich.

As Warnock has hinted, the best is probably still to come from the Dutchman, who hasn’t lacked for confidence in a Reds shirt so far, and that belief should only grow with each start that he gets under Klopp.

You can view Warnock’s comments on Gravenberch below (from 30:45), via NBC Sports on YouTube:

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The list of players present and absent from Liverpool training on Wednesday afternoon may have offered telling hints as to who may nor may not be involved against Toulouse tomorrow.

It was very encouraging to see Ben Doak and Conor Bradley partaking in the session at Kirkby, with the latter nearing a comeback from a lengthy injury, although some first-team names were conspicuous by their absence.

As per Liverpool Echo, there was no sign of either Ryan Gravenberch or Curtis Jones at today’s training session. Alisson Becker was spotted on the club’s live stream on YouTube but wasn’t seen on the pitch.

READ MORE: Injured Liverpool ace could be nearing comeback after partaking in Reds training pre-Toulouse

READ MORE: Liverpool youngster gets international call-up despite still waiting for senior Reds debut

It appears that the latter trio mightn’t feature against Toulouse if they didn’t partake in training today, although we’ll get our answer when Jurgen Klopp names his team after 4pm on Thursday.

It would’ve been expected that, even had he trained, Alisson would’ve give way to Caoimhin Kelleher, with the Irishman playing in two of the previous three Europa League games and missing the other through injury.

As for Gravenberch and Jones, the Scouser missed the 1-1 draw at Luton on Sunday with a minor problem, so it could simply be a case that neither are risked if they’re carrying knocks.

Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott could be in the frame to start in midfield, along with one of Alexis Mac Allister or Dominik Szoboszlai, with neither of the latter two likely to play the full 90 minutes given their status as regular starters in the Premier League.

Ideally the trio who missed training are simply being rested with the bigger picture in mind and will all be available to face Brentford on Sunday. At least there are quality players to come into the side if today’s absentees miss out against Toulouse.

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Ronald Koeman has spoken about the prospects of Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch featuring in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024 next summer.

The Oranje are assured of at least a play-off place for the finals and will qualify directly with a game to spare if they win at home to Republic of Ireland on 18 November.

The Reds player infuriated his national team coach by declining a call-up to the country’s under-21 squad just after signing for his new club in September, but the Dutch boss has now declared that the 21-year-old’s exile from international selection is ‘over’ (Liverpool Echo).

Koeman has even hinted that Gravenberch could be in line to go to the tournament next June if he can obtain regular game-time at Liverpool and impress at Anfield.

Speaking to Ziggo Sport Voetbal [via Liverpool Echo], the 60-year-old said of the midfielder: “If he continues to develop in this way, he will join the Dutch national team. I told him that I want to do it with the same group as much as possible in the coming international match.

“We are going to qualify, which means we will have practice matches in March and June. He is a midfielder who is definitely in the picture if he plays more. That was already the case at Bayern, but if you saw every weekend that he did not play or came on for five minutes, then it does not make sense to select him.”

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Just over two months since joining Liverpool, Gravenberch has already accrued more than 50% of the total game-time he managed all season at Bayern Munich in 2022/23, with 573 minutes played for the Reds and only 373 more needed to match his entire tally in Bavaria (Transfermarkt).

It indicates that he was quite justified in leaving the Bundesliga champions for Anfield, where Jurgen Klopp is giving him ample opportunity to perform and to bury the hatchet with Koeman following the voluntary international withdrawal earlier in the autumn.

The 21-year-old’s displays so far for LFC suggest that his country would be foolish to overlook him for Euro 2024, despite him angering federation chiefs by opting out of the under-21 squad in September.

Koeman seems to recognise that by extending an olive branch to Gravenberch and opening the door for him to come back into the Netherlands squad, rather than letting any mutual enmity fester throughout the club season and into the tournament next June.

The Liverpool midfielder deserves to play on the grandest platform, and if he can maintain the form he’s shown in his first couple of months at Anfield, it seems far more likely than unlikely that he’ll be on the plane to Euro 2024 – assuming the Orange finish the job of qualification.

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Liverpool may have been held to a 1-1 draw by Luton Town earlier today but one Reds player can be pleased with his performance at Kenilworth Road.

Ryan Gravenberch was handed another start by Jurgen Klopp for the clash with the Hatters and the 21-year-old was his usual busy self with plenty of powerful runs and combinations with his teammates in the middle of the park.

The Merseysiders may not have earned all three points, but journalist Henry Winter (via his account on X) was keen to highlight the performance of our No. 38 after the game.

Ryan Gravenberch impressed again. Smooth, strong runner with the ball from midfield, one of the few positives in #LFC performance, and only 21. #LUTLIV

— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) November 5, 2023

READ MORE: ‘Better than that’ – Jamie Carragher left disappointed by scum chants from Luton supporters

The Netherlands international struggled for regular game time at Bayern Munich last season but has performed well when called upon by Klopp following his summer move to Anfield.

He brings a lot of energy and bite to our midfield while also offering a lot of creativity when attacking.

The ex-Ajax man was replaced by Luis Diaz after Luton took the lead, and although the Colombian came on and rescued a point for the Reds with a brilliant header, Gravenberch can feel some what aggrieved by the decision to replace him rather than some of the other players on the pitch.

The Dutchman still has a lot of learning to do at his tender age but there’s plenty of reasons to be optimistic about what he can achieve in a red shirt.

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Liverpool signed four new midfielders in the summer, with three of those coming from the Bundesliga, and one of Jurgen Klopp’s new stars has now spoken out about the difference between the German top-flight and the Premier League.

Ryan Gravenberch, who only made three league starts for Bayern Munich last season, has settled quickly following his summer move from the Allianz Arena and already has four goal contributions to his name this term.

He is thriving on Merseyside with a number of quality performances in the middle of the park despite admitting the Premier League is ‘different’ to what he’s used to.

“There are no easy games,” the Dutchman told Liverpoolfc.com (via Liverpool Offside). “There is not one single team that is bad, or not good. Every single game you have to give everything. That’s the Premier League.

“There is more intensity, and also physically [it is harder].

“I think the Premier League is the number one competition in the world. It’s different from where I came from.

“For me, I am enjoying playing again, being on the pitch, playing with my teammates and showing everything I can. That is good for me as a person and as a player, that I can do that again.”

Every time Gravenberch steps out onto the pitch he’s playing with a smile on his face and he looks like a brand new player compared to the one who spent so much time on the bench last season.

READ MORE: ‘Made an agreement’: Liverpool’s first January signing looks nailed on after private agreement – report

At just 21 years of age the Netherlands international has quite scary potential and he’s thriving under the watchful eye of our German tactician.

He’s a rather unique midfielder.

Despite his towering presence in the middle of the park the ex-Ajax man is neat and tidy with the ball at his feet and never looks fazed when on the ball.

It’ll be interesting to see whether our No. 38 is included in Klopp’s starting XI for today’s clash with Luton at Kenilworth Road – we’ll just have to wait and see!

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Ryan Gravenberch has hit the ground running at Liverpool following his summer move from Bayern Munich.

The Netherlands international has impressed in the middle of the park with his ability to beat a man and create chances for those around him.

The £34.2m (Sky Sports) that we paid for the 21-year-old’s services is looking a real bargain at the moment and despite already netting twice in the Europa League the ex-Ajax man is eager to get off the mark in the Premier League.

“I need one!” the Dutchman told Liverpoolfc.com (via Liverpool Offside).

“And I will make one for sure, I hope! I’m here now for a few weeks. It’s still early days but I’m feeling good, everything is sorted and everything is good.

“It’s been very good for me, to be fair. I made a good start, I’m very happy about that. And the home games with Liverpool, the atmosphere, to be honest it’s amazing. I’m just happy.”

Gravenberch was one of four summer signings and they have all impressed during the early stages of their Anfield careers.

Our new No. 38 has the ability to beat a man and make things happen but he also shows extreme composure in the engine room – something that we lacked massively last term.

READ MORE: (Video) Andre in tears after FT whistle as Fluminense claim Copa Libertadores glory

The Dutchman struggled for regular game time at the Allianz Arena last season and it’s clear that he’s now thriving under our German tactician and is feeling the love.

He’ll be eager to earn more minutes when we travel to Luton Town earlier today – three points can lift us up to second, a point behind current league leaders Manchester City.

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Owen Hargreaves has said that he thoroughly enjoys watching Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, adding that he reminds him of a player who once proved to be an expensive misfit at Manchester United.

The Dutchman arrived from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day and, despite getting just two Premier League starts so far (Transfermarkt), he’s already looked a tremendous addition to Jurgen Klopp’s side with his energy in the middle third and his eye for goal.

Speaking to Premier League Productions (30 October, 2:40pm), the former England international equated the versatility and athleticism of the 21-year-old to Paul Pogba, with the caveat that he reckoned the comparison wouldn’t fit well with Reds supporters.

Hargreaves said of Gravenberch: “He has played amazing [in the Europa League] and because he has played well there, then he gets the opportunity to play in the Premier League. 

“He reminds me, Liverpool fans won’t like this, but he is Pogba-esque. He can do a lot of good stuff. He can play in a lot of positions. He has a great size. Great athleticism.

“I think he is one of those players you will need to specialise in a position, but so far I love watching him. I am amazed he didn’t play more for Bayern because I think he is going to be a good addition to [Liverpool’s] midfield.”

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Hargreaves’ comparison of Gravenberch and Pogba due to their physique and their adaptability to multiple midfield roles isn’t wholly unfounded, with both the Liverpool ace and the Frenchman having alternated between the number 6, 8 and 10 positions.

However, while the Reds’ Dutch recruit has thoroughly impressed with his all-action attitude, the former Man United midfielder was strongly criticised over his application at Old Trafford and came to be regarded as an expensive flop following his then-world record £89.3m transfer in 2016 (ESPN).

The 30-year-old is a classic case of someone who possesses no shortage of talent but lacks the ultra-professional mindset which is required of footballers at the highest level.

Thankfully, all the evidence of Gravenberch at Liverpool thus far suggests that his mentality won’t be a problem, and his recent performances may even have given Klopp a pleasant selection headache.

Curtis Jones has now served his three-match domestic suspension, but will he come straight back in for the Dutchman given how impressive the latter has been? We’re thankful that it isn’t us who’s left to make that decision!

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Ryan Gravenberch earned a deserved standing ovation from the Anfield faithful after putting in the exact kind of midfield general performance Liverpool fans would have expected to see from Jude Bellingham had they been successful in their pursuit of the Englishman in the summer.

It wasn’t meant to be with the now Real Madrid powerhouse, though Forbes‘ Graham Ruthven was nonetheless keen to point out that the Reds may have still ended up with a ‘complete’ midfielder regardless.

“Liverpool have desired a complete midfielder like Gravenberch for years,” the contributor wrote.

“They were consistently linked with Jude Bellingham before he joined Real Madrid and Gravenberch is similar in profile to the England international. He is a box-to-box operator who can contribute on both the attacking and defensive sides of the ball.”

Ruthven went on to add: “Sitting fourth in the Premier League table, Liverpool are once again the best quick-transition team in the division and Gravenberch is a good fit for this style of play.

“The 21-year-old is technically able with the ball at his feet and has the physical attributes to succeed in a Klopp team. He is perfect for Liverpool.”

The Dutchman combined defensive nous with barnstorming offensive prowess, winning most of his duels and acting as a creative outlet. Most impressively, the 21-year-old crafted chances entirely single-handedly on multiple occasions with his runs toward the opposition box.

Updated stats [70 mins played] from Toulouse clash

1 goal
96% pass accuracy [26/27]
3 key passes
7/11 ground duels won
3 tackles
2 interceptions https://t.co/GHQpRlvkT4 pic.twitter.com/pzC9bO0to8

— Farrell Keeling (@farrellkeeling) October 26, 2023

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READ MORE: Colossus: Liverpool’s 23-minute cameo king had 100% duel win rate – more than Gomez, Matip & Endo

The really good news is that there’s still plenty left to come from our latest summer signing – a point Jurgen Klopp was more than keen to make after the 5-1 victory over Toulouse in the Europa League.

“I’m so happy for him that he starts really enjoying his football again. His first touch is incredible, his acceleration with the ball,” the 56-year-old told TNT Sports (via the Standard). “He’s not even half way there. The good thing is that he has a lot of things to improve.”

The German tactician was spot on to point out a clear difference in a player that, whilst perhaps not moping about in Bavaria, was underappreciated by Thomas Tuchel.

Here at Liverpool, Gravenberch is playing like a man with the shackles off, importantly with a manager behind him who believes he has all the qualities necessary to be an integral player for the club for the next decade or so.

His last appearance in the league against Everton may have been his first start in English top-flight football – but it sure as hell won’t be his last after another top-class performance in the first-XI.

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What to do with Curtis Jones? The 22-year-old enjoyed a superb start to the 2023/24 campaign, picking up right where he left things the prior season… until an unfortunate slip of the boot over the ball saw him accidentally crunch into Yves Bissouma and awarded a three-match suspension.

In misfortune, however, opportunity is bred, and so Ryan Gravenberch stepped into the fold seeking to prove that he’s far more than a Bayern Munich dud.

His latest display against Toulouse will have vindicated Hasan Salihamidzic and Oliver Kahn – the recently departed figureheads at the Allianz Arena responsible for his arrival from Ajax – in their joint decision. Thomas Tuchel, by contrast, may be feeling a little sheepish.

READ MORE: Colossus: Liverpool’s 23-minute cameo king had 100% duel win rate – more than Gomez, Matip & Endo

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What now for Curtis Jones?

With the Dutchman thriving on the left of the midfield, however, it does beg the question as to how exactly Jones will work his way back into the XI – quite the dramatic turnaround given that it would have been considered unthinkable to drop the Englishman not too long ago.

That said, we did witness a solid display from our ‘super’ (as Jurgen Klopp described his recent displays following a win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup, via Liverpool World) Scouse Academy graduate that most certainly benefitted Liverpool’s new tendencies toward possession-based play.

The England U21s international kept the ball relatively well (albeit losing possession far more than he’s used to this term) and completed 94% (61/65) of his passes on the night in the right midfield role.

What Jones offers on the pitch (even though not quite as alluring to the eye as Ryan Gravenberch’s box office runs) is undoubtedly important, though you’d invite a few incredulous looks if suggesting Dominik Szoboszlai should be benched in his place.

The shirt in the league for that left midfield position now seems the former Bayern man’s to lose, with our No.17 surely now set to warm the bench in the Premier League for the foreseeable future.

The good news is that he should still be in for some reasonable minutes here and there in cup competitions and Europe! Of course, there’s no reason either that opportunity won’t strike once again in his favour.

#Ep94 of The Empire of the Kop Podcast: EOTK Insider with Neil Jones

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