Ryan Gravenbury may have emerged as one of the talented midfielders in football after Liverpool failed to sign him in number six, but transfer priorities remain.
Liverpool’s failure to chase Martin Zuvimendi and the subsequent emergence of Gravenberch from Arne Slot’s midfield base has been one of the defining stories of the season so far.
The manager has always had plans for his fellow Dutchman, but his willingness to spend £51m on Zuvimendi has shown his hand when it comes to his views on the squad.
Clearly, Slot and the club’s recruiters felt they were light in the midfield department and there was a belief that they had found the perfect solution in identifying the Real Sociedad metronome.
Considering the controlled and precise manner in which Liverpool’s midfield now operates under their new manager, it is easy to see how Zuvimendi would have adapted.
But it is now difficult to imagine Slot’s engine room without Gravenberch’s progressive, pressure-heavy presence.
Gravenberch is starting to get tired
So far this season, only Virgil van Dijk (1,710) and Mohamed Salah (1,703) have played more minutes for Liverpool than Gravenberch (1,687), a considerable distance behind the next highest, Alexis Mac Allister (1,496). there is.
Consistency in his availability is a key asset. No player has made more starts in all competitions (19) and only he, Van Dijk and Salah have started all 14 league games so far.
But his performance in Wednesday night’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle showed why reliance on Gravenberch could be problematic for Slot as the campaign progresses.
The 22-year-old played every minute of the Premier League and Champions League matches before being substituted after 67 minutes at St James’ Park.
“I left him out because he played so well every game and in the first half of this game he wasn’t at his best like the team.” Slott later explained his decision to take off the previously untouchable No. 38.
“It was a game where I felt like someone could do the same to give him a little bit of a break.”
The upshot was that Gravenberch was unable to play his usual role in a tight midfield battle, so Curtis Jones was selected as the bottom midfielder and replaced by Dominik Szoboszlai.
Jones took the nominal number 6 spot and Szoboszlai proved to be the right choice as he played a key role in Liverpool’s comeback to take a 3-2 lead.
But in opting for yet another of his almost exclusive combinations of Gravenberch, Jones, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, Slot showed that his midfield options are still lacking.
There are no plans for endo
Slot himself described these players as his “main midfield four” when speaking ahead of the postponed Merseyside derby, but suggested Harvey Elliott could also become a regular, saying he was also “coming back”.
However, it appears that the director’s failure to mention Wataru Endo or Tyler Morton was not a mistake.
They are Liverpool’s only number six, but have only spent 239 minutes on the pitch this season. If you exclude the Carabao Cup minutes, that record is reduced to 21 minutes.
The omission of Morton, who was linked with a summer move, is not particularly surprising.
However, there is a clear sense that Endo is not considered a viable option within Slot’s system, nor is he viewed as a late cameo to maintain a tight lead. Ironically, it should have actually been that way against Newcastle.
Earlier this week, the Japan captain told the Red Machine podcast that he had spoken with the manager about his role and had accepted his status as a hard-working player for now.
“I think this is what I need to do right now. I’m really grateful that he knows that I always work hard on the pitch,” Endo explained.
“I’m glad he came to me to talk about it. “The manager said we need everyone because playing for Liverpool is not easy.”
Football is a squad game and not every player can be a starter, but the harsh schedule makes it increasingly tricky for those considered first choice.
Midfielder still comes first
Gravenberch will undoubtedly be a key player for Liverpool for years to come and all is well. But the current situation has only emphasized that he, too, must manage his time carefully during the campaign.
So while Slot is currently relying on his “main four midfielders” (perhaps added with Elliott’s return as a number 10 option), the group of regular starters will need to be expanded further.
It is unclear whether that will come in the January transfer window or not. Slot explained earlier this month: (We will not sign a contract with anyone).”
As seen with Liverpool’s ‘Juvi Mendi or bust’ approach in the summer, any move will depend on the availability of the right player.
There is no need to simply bring in another player to fill the midfield position. Endo and Morton already think so. But there still remains an urgent need to add another top-tier option.
Perhaps it could be Zubimendi, with the growing belief that he will leave Sociedad in the near future, and the prospect of Slot replacing him and Gravenberch depending on the tactical battles ahead is very attractive.
But as Liverpool need to find a new left-back or a long-term replacement for Mohamed Salah on the right flank, it is clear that another controlling midfielder remains their priority.
