Ryan Gravenberch has earned high praise from former Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara, who has been impressed by how the Dutchman has adapted under Arne Slot’s system.
Though Thiago and Gravenberch were briefly teammates, they never shared the pitch due to the Spaniard’s injury struggles during his final season.
Still, Thiago has observed Gravenberch’s development closely, even attending Liverpool’s recent 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest as a fan.
Despite the loss, Gravenberch emerged as one of the few players to receive plaudits, and days later, he delivered a standout Man of the Match performance against AC Milan.
Speaking to LFCTV before the Nottingham Forest game, Thiago shared his thoughts on Gravenberch’s progress, particularly his ability to adapt to a new role in Liverpool’s midfield trio.
“All good players, they have to get experience. They’ve just got to adapt to different circumstances in the game,” Thiago said.
“He’s doing that, he’s just getting better in that position in the midfield, sometimes at No. 6. We can see it’s a very flowing three midfielders. It’s really pretty good to see him, how he’s evolving, how he’s adapting to that position.”
Intelligence and adaptability: Gravenberch’s key traits
Thiago emphasised Gravenberch’s intelligence and versatility, noting how quickly the 21-year-old has settled into his new environment.
With Liverpool’s midfield overhaul this season, Gravenberch has formed an impressive partnership alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, thriving in different roles and showing his tactical awareness.
Ryan Gravenberch. Credit: Imago Images
“He’s an intelligent kid, so he will adapt very fast to any moment in the game, anything the coach says. He did it,” Thiago explained.
“We have to say they’ve done incredibly good, the three in midfield, because it’s not just him, it’s Macca there, it’s Dom as well around. Being surrounded by good players makes you a better player as well.”
As someone who excelled in a possession-based system at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Thiago’s insights carry weight when discussing Arne Slot’s approach at Liverpool. Gravenberch also played at Bayern so they have similar backgrounds.
Reflecting on the changes at the club, Thiago noted the evolution under Slot while also acknowledging the tremendous foundation laid by Jurgen Klopp.
“For sure I’m impressed. We came from an era when Klopp did a great job here, one of the best times of Liverpool history,” Thiago said.
Jurgen Klopp (L) and Thiago Alcantara (R). Credit: Imago Images
“Then you’re getting back and the great players that they have, they will perform under the new coach. They’ve just got better and better, they’ve shown in each game with more possession, knowing how to play football and being, as they’ve always been, aggressive.”
Thiago’s praise for Gravenberch and the new-look midfield speaks volumes about the Dutchman’s potential and how Slot’s system has allowed him to shine.
