September 29th 2024.
Liverpool's new manager, Arne Slot, has certainly hit the ground running. Under his leadership, the team has already secured five wins in their first six games, putting them at the top of the Premier League. However, former player Owen Hargreaves believes that if Liverpool wants to achieve their ultimate goal of winning top trophies, they will need to strengthen their midfield with a specialist defensive midfielder.
Slot has been utilizing a midfield trio consisting of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, with Gravenberch playing in a deeper role than he is used to. While this has been effective so far, Hargreaves doubts its long-term success. He believes that Gravenberch, despite his current strong performance, may not be able to handle the demands of the position at the highest level.
According to Hargreaves, a specialist defensive midfielder is crucial for a team to succeed in big games, as shown by Liverpool's Fabinho and Manchester City's Rodri. He praises Gravenberch's current form, but still believes that Liverpool will need to address this position in the transfer market.
Gravenberch, who has been in top form this season, was even named Player of the Match in Liverpool's recent 2-1 win against Wolves. However, teammate Ibrahima Konate was less than thrilled about handing over the award, jokingly questioning who decides these things. Despite the friendly banter, Konate recognizes Gravenberch's talent and his contributions to the team's success.
Ultimately, Hargreaves believes that Gravenberch has the potential to become a top midfielder, but for now, Liverpool may need to bring in some reinforcements for those tougher, high-stakes games. He commends Gravenberch for taking his chance and proving himself on the field, but also acknowledges that the team may still need to strengthen their midfield in the future.
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