This season, Ryan Gravenberch has been one of the best players of Liverpool and a large part of their Premier League title Triumph, but his performances were so good that he believes that teams began to focus on him – so that Liverpool had engaged their tactics to adjust to adjust
Ryan Gravenberch knew that in the second half of the season he was more the target by opposition players. That was the biggest compliment he could get for his versions in his new No 6 roll this term for Liverpool.
But it can also be a warning for what will come next season for the Reds now they will be the ones who are defeated as defensive champions. Gravenberch, 23, was a BIT party player in his first season in the club under Jurgen Klopp after participating in Bayern Munich in 2023.
But after he had not landed in Martin Zubimendi last summer, the new boss Arne Slot set his confidence in his fellow -Dutch to play the role of keeping midfield and to switch back a little further than where he had played before.
It was a revelation and one of the most important components for Liverpool who won the title at a canter, but Gravenberch has already felt how opponents change their focus.
He said: “That was exactly the thing. Everything was also new to the opponents. Then they knew how we played and then we had to try to find solutions.
“In the first half of the season, everything went a bit through me. After that they are focused on me, but then the other midfielders become free, so they passed and then to me. It was also a bit difficult for me because you don't get the ball as much as other teammates get it instead.
“We can also improve our playing style for us, perhaps a bit too static at the end, and we can also change in midfield, for example when I play [Alexis] Mac Allister, he can get to my position and I go higher, so that would be difficult to press us, and I think that is a very good part that we can improve. “
Yet that is all for next season. The focus is on the last celebration of tomorrow when the Reds get the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2020. It will also be the first time for fans for the first time since 1990 because of the Covid Pandemic five years ago.
Gravenberch is enthusiastic thanks to Virgil van Dijk who shows him the scenes of the 2019 parade after their Champions League triumph.
“I saw some Virg clips when they had the parade for the Champions League,” he said. “And there were so many people, so I am so enthusiastic about what is happening now.”
But he also has his own ambition against Crystal Palace tomorrow in the 90 minutes. That is to get his first goal of the season. The deeper role means that he has not had such a big effect in the last third part this period. And despite his sparkle in his position, it is still something that he wants to change tomorrow.
'I had a conversation with Dominic [Szoboszlai] Recently before we played against Brighton, “he said.” We were in global warming, you know, and I had some good finishes. He said, I feel that you will score today. I said, hopefully I have to score one today. So hopefully I can score against Crystal Palace. “
When asked if he might go on free kick, he said, “Hopefully maybe, maybe a penalty.” Good luck with the ball of Mo Salah, however.
Ryan Gravenberch spoke as ambassador of the Cruyff Foundation at the opening of a Cruyff Court in Anfield.