Analysis of how Ryan Gravenberch rapidly became the midfielder Liverpool needed.

Ryan Gravenberch’s Liverpool career came to an end when Martin Zubimendi decided to stay with Real Sociedad instead.

The 22-year-old has been a revelation for the Reds in a deeper midfield role. The Reds’ seeming surprising title run this season might be attributed to Gravenberch’s effectiveness in his new role.

That demonstrates how renowned he has become in such a short amount of time.

Arne Slot’s side presently leads the Premier League, having conceded only two goals and kept five clean sheets in its opening seven games.

The underlying data also provide a good picture. The Reds have allowed only 5.2 xG (expected goals), the best in the league, with Aston Villa coming in second with 6.9.

Yes, the Reds have had some beneficial matchups to start the season. Slot is prepared to remind fans of this in every interview. But you can only defeat what’s in front of you, and Liverpool is doing just that. They are doing well, too.

They handle situations with and without the ball.

Should we really be surprised?

Gravenberch is important in this context. Should this have come as a surprise? His profile looks to be suitable for this role on Liverpool’s squad, which reports to his Dutch colleague.

The slot required someone who was comfortable in possession, press-resistant, and physically fit. Zubimendi was not the tallest nor the strongest, but he was remarkably muscular for his height.

The former Feyenoord manager now has someone who is comfortable in control, resilient under pressure, and physically powerful. This is nearly the polar opposite of how the Netherlands international was utilized last season.

Gravenberch, who played mostly as a left-sided No. 8 under Jurgen Klopp, struggled with consistency and possession. However, Liverpool was experimenting an inverted full-back system, so this was expected.

The balance was somewhat off when he was on the left and Dominik Szoboszlai was on the right. Both attempted to affect the last third, leaving Alexis MacAllister exposed.

Gravenberch, on the other hand, looked to be a comparable style of midfielder around that period. Following the midfielder’s sale, his manager at Bayern Munich, Thomas Tuchel, said: “He’s a box-to-box midfielder for me, an attacking player.

“The main difficulty for him is that we don’t have an 8 in our 4-2-3-1 configuration. And we’re spoilt with choice up front, with extremely experienced players.

“Ryan is a really courteous, industrious, and devoted athlete. He wasn’t thrilled with his situation. He believes Liverpool can strive for a slot at No. 8 in a 4-3-3.

Klopp also praised his new No. 38’s box-to-box performance when he initially arrived.

Perhaps the German coach wants to make the most of his skill on the ball in the final third. Perhaps his physicality was seen as a need in the last phases.

However, he has always met the criteria for someone who can function at deeper levels of a particular system. Fortunately for him, Slot had implemented that system.

Strong underlying numbers.

During his time at Ajax, he played in a variety of midfield positions and seemed to be at comfortable in the early stages of play.

As a press reliever, he absorbs pressure and either beats his opponent or gets a foul. Several times this season, he has been the game’s most fouled player.

It may appear to be a little fact, but he has the capacity to mitigate the effects of challenging conditions. He lures his opponent into a tackle before quickly altering gears and scoring a simple free kick.

Gravenberch has altered his production this season to match the demands of his single pivot role. For example, in his first season with the Reds, he attempted only 40 passes per 90, with an 82% success rate.

This semester, he tried 68 passes and had an 89% success rate. He tried 28 more passes and had a higher success rate. He’s more engaged and safer, as you’d expect from someone in his position.

According to FBref, he is making more progressive passes and attempting less dribbles and more carries.

His current carry distance is close to his average with Ajax. In fact, his passing numbers are practically identical to those he had during his final season in Amsterdam.

He is winning 67% of his challenges, the highest success rate in his career, and making more tackles and interceptions than previously.

The 22-year-old has not had to adjust to life as Slot’s defensive midfielder. What is not widely known is that the £35 million signing is merely playing his natural game.

Gravenberch is seeing more of the ball, has more room to move, and so has more opportunities to progress the game and optimize his ball-carrying abilities.

Gravenberch isn’t as vulnerable in this circumstance as he was last season, due to the Dutch tactician’s desire for Liverpool to stay tight out of possession. In conclusion, the Reds allow the Ajax school graduate to benefit on his strengths while concealing his weaknesses.

Zubimendi’s preference for climbing in the Basque mountains over Champions League football has resulted in a successful combination for both the team and the person.

Martin Zubimendi’s choice to stay with Real Sociedad ended Ryan Gravenberch’s Liverpool career.

The 22-year-old has been a revelation for the Reds in a deeper midfield position. The Reds’ apparent unexpected championship push this season might be linked to Gravenberch’s performance in his new post.

That shows how prominent he has grown in such a short period of time.

Arne Slot’s squad now leads the Premier League, conceding only two goals and holding five clean sheets in the first seven games.

The underlying figures also offer a favorable picture. The Reds have let up only 5.2 xG (expected goals), the best in the league, with Aston Villa coming in second at 6.9.

Yes, the Reds have had some advantageous matchups to begin their season. Slot is ready to remind fans of this in every single interview. But you can only defeat what is in front of you, and Liverpool is doing just that. They’re doing well, too.

They manage situations both with and without the ball.

Should we actually be surprised?

Gravenberch plays a critical role here. Should it really have come as a surprise? His profile appears to be ideal for this position on the Liverpool team under his Dutch colleague.

Slot required someone who was comfortable in possession, press-resistant, and physically fit. Zubimendi wasn’t the tallest or the strongest, but he was surprisingly muscular for someone his size.

The former Feyenoord manager now has someone who is at ease in possession, resistant to pressure, and physically strong. This is practically the polar opposite of how the Netherlands international was used last season.

Gravenberch, who was mostly used as a left-sided No. 8 under Jurgen Klopp, struggled with consistency and possession. However, Liverpool was testing an inverted full-back system, so it was expected.

The balance was a touch wrong when he was on the left and Dominik Szoboszlai was on the right. Both sought to effect the last third, leaving Alexis MacAllister vulnerable.

Gravenberch, on the other hand, appeared to be a similar type of midfielder at the time. Thomas Tuchel, his manager at Bayern Munich, stated following the midfielder’s sale: “He’s a box-to-box midfielder for me, an attacking player.

“The major issue for him is that we don’t have a No. 8 in our 4-2-3-1 formation. And we’re spoilt with options up front, with very experienced players.

“Ryan is a really polite, hardworking, and dedicated player. He was unhappy with his circumstances. He sees the possibility with Liverpool to push for a position at No. 8 in a 4-3-3.”

Klopp also lauded his new No. 38’s box-to-box ability when he first arrived.

Perhaps the German coach wants to make the most of his talent on the ball in the closing third. Perhaps his physicality was considered as a requirement in the last stages.

However, he has always fit the description of someone who can function at deeper levels of a given system. Fortunately for him, Slot had employed that system.

During his tenure at Ajax, he played in a variety of midfield positions and appeared to be at ease in the opening phase of play.

As a press reliever, he absorbs pressure and either defeats the opponent or draws a foul. Several times this season, he has been the most fouled player in a game.

It may appear to be a little statistic, but he has the ability to soften the blow of difficult situations. He baits the opponent into a tackle before rapidly shifting gears and scoring an easy free kick.

Gravenberch has adjusted his productivity this season to meet the demands of this single pivot role. For example, in his first season with the Reds, he attempted just 40 passes per 90, with an 82% success rate.

This semester, he’s attempted 68 passes and has an 89% success rate. He’s attempted 28 more passes and has a better success percentage. He’s more involved and safer, which is precisely what you’d expect from someone in his position.

According to FBref, he’s making more progressive passes while trying fewer dribbles and more carries.

His current carry distance is comparable to what he averaged with Ajax. In fact, his passing statistics are nearly equal to those he compiled during his final season in Amsterdam.

He’s winning 67% of his challenges, the best success rate of his career, and he’s making more tackles and interceptions than before.

The 22-year-old hasn’t had to adjust to life as Slot’s defensive midfielder. What is flying under the radar is that the £35 million signing is simply playing his natural game.

Gravenberch is seeing more of the ball, has more freedom to maneuver, and so has more opportunity to advance play and maximize his ball-carrying skills.

Gravenberch isn’t as exposed in this situation as he may have been last season, thanks to the Dutch tactician’s desire for Liverpool to remain pretty tight out of possession. In summary, the Reds allow the Ajax academy graduate to capitalize on his abilities while hiding his deficiencies.

Zubimendi’s choice for hiking in the Basque mountains over Champions League football has created a winning combination for both the squad and the individual.

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