Gravenberch's spectacular revival journey

Gravenberch is exploding in a Liverpool shirt.

Under the guidance of Arne Slot, the Dutch midfielder not only regained his confidence, but also became the most important link in the conquest journey of "The Kop".

“Irreplaceable” at Anfield

Coming out of the famous Ajax academy, Gravenberch was expected to become the next star to continue the tradition of producing talent for the Dutch team. Tall, strong, technical and dynamic, he was quickly compared to the legendary Frank Rijkaard.

But that comparison itself becomes a burden. A 20-year-old player has to shoulder the legacy of the past, while his career path still has many twists and turns.

In the summer of 2022, Gravenberch left Ajax to join Bayern Munich for £16 million. At that time, many experts in the Netherlands warned: this trip was too early.

In fact, Gravenberch could not break into the main squad of the "Gray Tigers". In 24 Bundesliga matches in the 2022/23 season, he only started 3 times. Thomas Tuchel did not trust him, and Gravenberch himself gradually lost confidence. From a bright young talent, he became "redundant" at the Allianz Arena.

Liverpool came to the rescue. In September 2023, "The Kop" spent 34 million pounds to bring Gravenberch to Anfield. In his first season, under Jurgen Klopp, he only started 12 Premier League matches and did not really explode. However, the turning point came when Klopp left, making way for Arne Slot - a coach who understood the potential of his compatriot midfielder.

Gravenberch just scored in the Merseyside derby.

Slot had wanted to bring Martin Zubimendi from Sociedad to replace Fabinho. But when the £52 million deal fell through, he decided to put his faith in Gravenberch in the No. 6 role. The result: Liverpool won the Premier League in 2024/25, and Gravenberch became an untouchable pillar.

Last season, Gravenberch played as an anchor, holding the tempo and making interceptions. His stats showed he averaged 2.4 tackles and 6.3 recoveries per 90 minutes – figures that were on par with the top holding midfielders in the league. But this season, Slot has given him more freedom to join the attack.

The results were immediate: after just four Premier League games in 2025/26, Gravenberch scored two goals - while the entire previous season (37 games) he did not score a single goal. In the Merseyside derby, he opened the scoring, setting the stage for the victory against Everton. Against Burnley, Gravenberch fired four shots, created four chances, demonstrating a strong presence in the opponent's third.

What is special is that Gravenberch's defensive stats remain stable. He does not "sacrifice" his blocking ability in exchange for attacking, but adds to his already diverse skill set. That is the difference that helps him excel compared to names like Caicedo (Chelsea) or Zubimendi (Arsenal).

Danny Murphy, former Liverpool midfielder, commented: “He is Liverpool’s most important player at the moment. When Gravenberch was absent from the game against Bournemouth, the team looked very empty. When he came back, the difference was immediate.”

Murphy added: “Gravenberch’s strengths are his ability to escape pressure, handle the ball intelligently in tight spaces and especially his cross-field dribbling. Not many central midfielders in Europe can pass well and also break through with the ball like him.”

Gravenberch gives Liverpool a rare balance.

Meanwhile, Marcel van der Kraan, a Dutch journalist for De Telegraaf , affirmed: “Arne Slot was the final piece in Gravenberch’s development journey. He gave him confidence, allowed him to play more freely, and make the most of his inherent skills. Thanks to that, Gravenberch found himself again.”

Comparison with Bellingham - Van der Vaart reasonable?

When Gravenberch was in decline at Bayern, Rafael van der Vaart shocked everyone by declaring: “He is better than Jude Bellingham”. At that time, the public laughed. But now, looking at his current form, many people are starting to think again.

Bellingham is still Real Madrid's top star, but Gravenberch is now on par with Liverpool in terms of influence. He has helped the club win all five of their opening games of the season, maintaining top spot in the table, and is also eyeing a potential World Cup 2026 campaign alongside Frenkie de Jong and Tijjani Reijnders.

Gravenberch’s journey is a testament to the fragility of football. Just two years ago, he was in a mental crisis in Germany, facing the risk of becoming a “wasted talent”. But thanks to Liverpool, and thanks to Arne Slot’s faith, Gravenberch is back on track, even reaching new heights.

More than goals or statistics, Gravenberch brings Liverpool a rare balance: solid in defense, smooth in organization, and explosive in attack. In Slot's hands, he is not only a central midfielder, but also the "conductor" that brings The Kop back to the position of number one candidate in the Premier League.

And if he continues to maintain this form, it is very possible that Van der Vaart will be vindicated: Ryan Gravenberch will not only be on par with, but may even surpass Jude Bellingham in the race to become the most complete central midfielder in Europe.

Source: https://znews.vn/hanh-trinh-hoi-sinh-ngoan-muc-cua-gravenberch-post1588276.html