Gary Neville raves about 'unbelievable' Liverpool star who has caught him off guard this season

Gary Neville says Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has surprised him more than any other player this season, with Arne Slot having transformed the Dutchman into a brilliant number six.

"I am going for Gravenberch as the biggest surprise because of how he has played, and in that position," Neville said on the Stick To Football podcast brought to you by Sky Bet. "I feel strongly that it is a massive surprise of the standard that he has performed at.

"I don't think anyone expected him to be this good. They may still go for a holding midfield player but when you don't get Martin Zubimendi to end up with Gravenberch playing how he has, it is unbelievable. Curtis Jones has been very good too. He started to play more towards the end of last season and his level has been impressive."

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"Gravenberch should definitely be in there," Ian Wright added. "Liverpool was getting ready to sign Zubimendi and he has come in and locked it off. How much money has he saved Liverpool?"

As well as Gravenberch, the panel also decided on Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood and Ipswich Town's Liam Delap as the other players to have surprised them this season. Both players have been in good goalscoring form.

Liverpool.com says: Even though Gravenberch has been brilliant, it would still be a good idea to have another option in midfield. Wataru Endo isn't the right kind of player to be deployed effectively in that deep-lying playmaker role so bringing in a viable alternative to Gravenberch would be the dream scenario in January.

With so many matches to come, having a similar battle for places in the number six role as Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz on the left wing would be a massive boost for Liverpool. Getting a fresh face over the line in the winter market could be enough to make the difference in what the Reds hope will be a title race they can last the distance.