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Arne Slot could be perfect for midfielder who fell out with manager after Liverpool signing
To the causal observer, Ryan Gravenberch couldn't have asked for much more from the moment he arrived at Liverpool on deadline day last September.
After being rarely used during a frustrating solitary season at Bayern Munich, the midfielder ended his debut campaign with the Reds having racked up 38 appearances while claiming his first major honour at Anfield.
Throw in a recall to the Holland national team and the increasing likelihood of a starting place at the forthcoming European Championships, Gravenberch would appear to have made impressive progress since completing his £35million transfer.
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But, as has often been the case for the the Dutchman this season, appearances can be deceptive. And it's why, in terms of consistency of output on the pitch, the jury remains very much out on Gravenberch.
There are, of course, some rather significant caveats. Having been regularly overlooked during his brief time in the Bundesliga, this has been a year in which the player has had to rebuild self-belief while adjusting to a move to a second major league and different country in as many seasons. That, having only turned 22 last month, he is far from the finished product would be applicable even if he had remained at Ajax, with whom he came through the Academy ranks.
Finding a position for Gravenberch has been difficult. Certainly, he revelled in greater first-team opportunities initially, finding the cup competitions in particular to his liking with two goals and an assist in the opening three Europa League group games and an assist in the League Cup win over Leicester City.
His ability to turn in possession and desire to always push forward marked him out as a progressive ball carrier the likes of which the Liverpool midfield had been missing in recent seasons. However, once the honeymoon period was over, so came the realisation of the intensity of the Premier League. There were a number of underwhelming cameos around the Christmas period and, by the New Year, Gravenberch was featuring in fewer matches.
But Liverpool's injury crisis pushed him back into contention and he had started to show signs of good form before joining the treatment room early on in the League Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley.
Gravenberch started only another three games after that although it was in one of those appearances at Fulham that he netted his first Premier League goal and showed signs of the potential that Liverpool had spotted when originally scouting him several years earlier.
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While departed boss Jurgen Klopp has had a hugely positive impact on Gravenberch, the player hopes more will come under new Liverpool head coach and compatriot Arne Slot.
“I think he is at least 50% better now than he was (at Ajax)," his father, Ryan Snr, said to ESPN. "He has become even stronger and fitter. The pace at which Liverpool plays is really not normal. Everything goes much faster and that has served him very well. Ryan always has to give something extra at Liverpool and that has made him a much better player.
“I don't think he has spoken to Slot yet, but Ryan is happy that he is coming. Although he loved playing under Klopp, Slot's playing style suits Ryan a little better. Slot plays more like Manchester City and Arsenal, under Klopp Liverpool played more directly. Slot's game suits Ryan better from Ajax's training.”
Gravenberch's desire to settle quickly at Liverpool meant he ruled himself out of Holland under-21 duty back in September and was subsequently cold-shouldered by senior national team boss Ronald Koeman. But now back in the fold, injuries elsewhere mean the midfielder could now start Holland's Euro 2024 opener against Poland on Sunday.
The youngster has had a turbulent few years. But both Gravenberch and Liverpool will hope consistency off the pitch results in more regularly impressive performances on it next season.
End-of-season rating: 6
