When you play for Liverpool and club legend John Barnes compares you to a legend in European football, you know you are doing something right in many ways.
Ryan Gravenberch has been one of the brightest performers since Arne Slot took over as Reds manager, with the Dutchman excelling in the defensive midfield role after a mixed first season at Anfield.
Speaking on ‘The Rest Is Football’, ‘Digger’ said the 22-year-old’s performance in the No.6 role is similar to that of Andrea Pirlo, who excelled in the position for many years during his time at AC Milan.
Barnes said enthusiastically: “Playing Ryan Gravenberch as a No. 6 is like playing Pirlo as a No. 6. He’s a different type of player, but more attacking and more comfortable on the ball, not a hard-working, strong, defensive midfielder.”
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Having seen Fabinho thrive as a disruptor at the heart of Liverpool’s midfield for years, and Wataru Endo show similar qualities in that role last season, Gravenberch has shown a different side to that under Slaw.
The Dutch international may not be as sturdy and solid as the Brazilian and Japanese players mentioned above, but his ability to receive the ball on the half-turn and run deep to provide breakthroughs shows that he is a good fit for the Reds’ new No. 6 strategy.
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Of course, at 22, he still has a long way to go before he can solidify the legacy Pirlo left in European football during his glittering playing career. But strong displays for club and country in recent weeks show that our number 38 is set for a career-changing season.
Gravenberch is still doing a great job without the ball, averaging 2.7 tackles and 2.3 interceptions per game, both of which are the highest in the Liverpool squad this season (WhoScored). So he looks to be very well balanced in his new role at Anfield.
If he can reach the heights that the Milan and Italy legend has enjoyed, the Reds midfielder will be a very special player indeed. We can’t wait to see his star rise even higher in the coming months and years!
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