23 hours ago
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Photo by Steven Halliwell | MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Ryan Gravenberch took a moment to reflect on what’s undoubtedly been a banner year.
Liverpool will look to cut their magic number to 8 points with a win over Fulham in a few hours. And with Arsenal doing their part by dropping points, Liverpool’s grip on the title looks increasingly unassailable.
We’re not counting the mission finished, of course, but you’d forgive a few of the folks around the team the opportunity to reflect on just how impressive this season’s been. With the expectations entering this season - being generously euphemistic - uncertain, where the club are and what they’ve done so far is a significant achievement in its own right.
If you were to ask Liverpool fans which current member of the squad best exemplifies that level of surprise, I’d wager many would point towards midfield maestro, Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutchman entered the season having struggled to find his way into Jurgen Klopp’s plans last season and struggled similarly at Bayern Munich the season before before that. In some circles, Gravenberch looked expendable. But what a revelation he’s been under Arne Slot.
The midfielder found time to sit down with the official site and give thoughts on how this season has gone for him, specifically on his move into the defensive midfielder role.
“The manager saw potential in me as a number six and I think it’s been going pretty well so far. It required adjusting my game, especially defensively, but I’m quite happy with my development so far. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, for example I need to get better at anticipating play, being proactive instead of reactive. Sometimes I find myself waiting to see where the ball lands, but if I could anticipate better I’d beat my opponent to it. That’s definitely something I’m working on.”
The entire interview is worth a read, as he provides some interesting insight on the current dynamics in the club as well as noting that current assistant Johnny Heitinga - who knew him in the youth setup at Ajax - has been key in his own development. Here’s hoping that the marked improvement, which has him as a top contender for the club’s Player of the Season, continues. Liverpool’s midfield clearly runs on Gravy.
