Theo Squires’ final word on Liverpool following their away Europa League match against LASK: Ryan Gravenberch makes an impression in his debut appearance.
Throughout what would turn out to be Ryan Gravenberch’s sole season in Germany, he frequently vented his dissatisfaction at Bayern Munich.
The ambitious 21-year-old Netherlands international was signed from Ajax last summer. Despite winning the Bundesliga in Bavaria, he only made five starts in the German top division and the Champions League after making 33 appearances in all competitions the previous season.
Long-time Liverpool target, Bayern insisted otherwise when the two teams squared off in preseason, but an exit in the summer still seemed imminent. The writing was on the wall after appearing for a total of nine minutes in the first three games for the German heavyweights.
LASK vs. Liverpool final score, goals, and highlights AS IT HAPPENED
Darwin Nunez and two other LFC players performed admirably against LASK.
Jurgen Klopp would give the Dutchman what he had been often denied in Germany in just two games. Even in a disjointed team performance following wholesale substitutions, he started the Reds’ Europa League opener against LASK Linz and wasted little time in showcasing his skill and proving why Liverpool was willing to spend up to £40m for his services.
You could have excused Gravenberch for being a touch rusty and needing some time to integrate into Klopp’s team after spending a season on the periphery in Bavaria. It was also comprehensible why he fluctuated in performance throughout the first half of his full Reds debut after receiving a black-and-blue kick from LASK defenders.
He linked up brilliantly with his new teammates in the final third, showing off an outstanding touch and always posing a threat while charging forward with the ball. When space opened up on the box, he played a clever one-two with Harvey Elliott, with whom he seems to have connected right away, but was stopped in his tracks by a last-ditch tackle.
However, he frequently ceded control to the hosts as a result of his frustration with several factors. He slammed the ground in frustration after losing one ball out of play, but Elliott soon intervened to encourage his new teammate to brush it off.
He did just that after the break, and Liverpool won the match thanks to a Dutchman moment of magic. When Nunez successfully held the ball up on the midway line and passed it to Elliott, Gravenberch sprinted down the right flank after catching a through ball and sent a lethal low cross for Luis Diaz to score.
Everyone could witness Gravenberch’s joy as he danced and jumped around in celebration with the Colombian. He has a new home now after a year of not loving his football.
Just two minutes prior to the goal, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister were added, allowing Klopp to fully utilize his new midfield trio, which cost £130 million. 13 minutes later, Gravenberch was forced off the field due to an injury, putting an end to their time on the field together.
The notion is that as his Reds career progresses, the Netherlands international will change into a deeper midfielder. However, in this box midfield situation, he was free to play to his strengths as a number eight. Along with Elliott, the duo demonstrated just how well the configuration can accommodate such adaptable, offensive players.
One can only hope that Gravenberch’s departure was only preventative. Since Klopp has been eager to work with the Dutchman, he will be licking his lips after this auspicious debut that may have given Bayern a glimpse of what they might have become.
The revamped midfield for Liverpool is finished after the summer. The 3-1 victory in Linz is just the beginning, though, after only 13 minutes of play as a team.
