Shock Liverpool player impresses fans in Arne Slot’s first game at Anfield

Liverpool fans were left stunned after Ryan Gravenberch delivered an outstanding performance in their 4-1 pre-season victory over Sevilla at Anfield. This match marked Arne Slot’s first game at Liverpool’s iconic home stadium since becoming the manager, and he fielded a strong lineup that included stars like Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah. However, it was Gravenberch who truly caught the eye.

Despite struggling to secure a regular spot in Jurgen Klopp’s lineup last season, Gravenberch seemed to thrive under Slot’s new system. Positioned in a double pivot midfield, the Dutchman impressed fans with his commanding display. His stats from the match were particularly notable: Gravenberch completed 53 out of 56 passes, achieving a 95% success rate, won 60% of his ground duels, and even created a big chance.

Fans took to social media to express their admiration. One fan highlighted his performance in the No. 6 role, noting, “Gravenberch really impressing in the 6 yet again 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼”. Another fan added, “Ryan Gravenberch has fit into this Arne Slot team like a glove, finally able to showcase his strength and ball-playing ability!”

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Some fans even speculated that Gravenberch’s strong performances could influence Liverpool’s transfer strategy. With reports linking Liverpool to Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, one fan humorously suggested that praising Gravenberch too much might deter the club from pursuing the Spanish midfielder: “I refuse to speak about Gravenberch’s performance at CDM this preseason. I’m afraid if we keep complimenting him publicly Michael Edwards won’t go out and get us Zubimendi.”

Despite the speculation surrounding the potential arrival of Zubimendi, Gravenberch’s performance against Sevilla demonstrated his potential to play a significant role this season. With Wataru Endo seemingly out of favor, Gravenberch may be in line for more playing time as Slot looks to establish his preferred starting lineup.

Liverpool will have another chance to refine their tactics and evaluate players when they face Las Palmas later today in another pre-season friendly at Anfield.