As the World Cup kicks into full flow we are seeing more Liverpool players ply their trade for their countries on the biggest stage of them all.
One that has impressed in his first match was Ryan Gravenberch, as the central midfielder and the Netherlands came up against a well fancied Japan side, who were missing captain and LFC player Wataru Endo.
The game itself finished 2-2, with the second half bursting into life gifting the fans all four goals and a late equalizer from the Japanese.
A dynamic performance
Back to Gravenberch. LFC’s No. 38 got the assist for both goals, one for his club and country captain Virgil van Dijk and the other for Crysencio Summerville.
He played in a midfield three with Frenkie De Jong and Tijjani Reijnders, as De Jong was deployed as the deeper lying player, it allowed Gravenberch more freedom than he has seen over the past two years at Anfield.
Gravenberch was reworked into the defensive midfield position under Arne Slot. In Slot’s first season we saw him play to the highest of levels in that new role and he looked to have solved Liverpool's long running problem in the position.
In the season just finished, we saw glimpses of the Gravenberch from 24/25 but on the whole, it was a drop off from the Dutchman.
Does this lead Andoni Iraola to transforming Gravenberch again, back into the role he has played most of his career and where he impressed during the World Cup.
Can Iraola look to this performance for inspiration?
As Liverpool fans, we have been thinking if this role he played could translate over into his club career. As many will have learnt since his arrival, Iraola plays two deeper lying midfielders in possession with an attacking midfielder playing ahead of them as part of the four-man attack.
Out of possession the formation shifts to a 4-4-2/4-4-1-1 with the two midfielders being asked to do a lot of work.
The traditional number six will look to do the usual jobs, break up play and use good defensive IQ, while his partner, the number eight, where Gravenberch could slot in, will look to play part of the press, provide energy in the middle and work box-to-box.
We all know Gravenberch is one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, potentially the world, when receiving the ball on the half-turn, something we saw a lot of from him vs Japan.
Another underrated aspect of his game that was on full show was his ability to progress the ball with the ball at his feet but also finding quick and accurate passes.
Very few are as naturally gifted as Gravenberch when it comes to his technical abilities, but he also has underrated athletic abilities that people around the world would be jealous of.
Standing at 6 ft 3 in, having an engine that can keep him going for a full 90 and surprisingly quick, he has natural tools that Iraola can mould and improve suit his mudfield down to a tee.
As a new signing it was expected that Gravenberch would be this more box-to-box player and provide a lot of attacking intent and show off his ball playing, progression and flair.
In his days at Ajax, both at youth and pro level, this was the type of player he was, extremely powerful on the ball and technically fantastic.
Liverpool options
Just weeks into the summer we have already heard about Liverpool’s interest in multiple midfielders and the role that has been linked the most are those who play in the defensive midfield role, finally looking to replace Fabinho with a like-for-like.
The profile of the player’s linked have been young yet high quality starters. It does seem as though the recruitment staff have decided to give Iraola an out and out DM who he can trust to play there.
This leaves Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Nyoni, Bajcetic, Jones and our focus here Gravenberch, who all seemingly fit the number eight role, maybe apart from Bajcetic.
Gravenberch will be at the top of the list I would assume, he has shown the elite levels he can reach, and this is his more natural role that fully suits his playstyle.
The potential for Szoboszlai to play in the 10 with Wirtz out on the left gives Iraola more flexibility for Gravenberch to become the starter in the number eight role.
In my opinion I think that Gravenberch will be an ideal candidate for this role in the midfield two, and for him personally, this would be the best way for him to maximize his potential but depending on how Iraola sees Szoboszlai playing it may be a battle for Gravenberch to cement that role as his own.
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