Let’s look at this right from the beginning. Ryan Gravenbirch has all the skills to become an outstanding midfielder under Jurgen Klopp. There’s a reason the Reds were willing to pay $43 million for the 21-year-old despite barely playing for Bayern during his one season in Germany.
So far Liverpool have only seen what Gravenbirch can really do. He struggled with intensity and pace against Arsenal, though he wasn’t alone. Everything seemed so hot to him in the middle of the field. A move to Anfield is likely to take some time to materialise. After playing haphazardly at Bayern Munich, there was little chance of a good start when I came to Liverpool. There are many examples of players in similar positions taking months to adapt, such as Fabinho.So there’s no reason to doubt that Gravenbirch has all the skills and can apply them all in a Liverpool shirt. But what’s next for the Dutch international?A future without Klopp awaits everyone at Anfield. Most players can continue as usual, but there are some, like Gravenbirch, who just arrive and log in will get another clean slate.
This can be a good thing or a bad thing, but depending on who the new coach is, the requirements will likely change again as he begins to adjust. It is unlikely that Xabi Alonso or the next Liverpool manager will want to play the way he did under Klopp. The requirements for the midfield role can change significantly. But soon Gravenbirch is faced with another problem to solve. This is a chicken and egg situation. The only way he can continue to improve is to play. Games like Arsenal will be a particularly valuable learning curve. However, he is unlikely to get regular playing time until he adjusts. Wataru Endo missed this weekend’s Asian Cup match against Japan so he could return in time for the match against Burnley, while Thiago Alcantara made his long-awaited return at the Emirates Stadium.
Also, Stefan Vaicetic is expected to be an option again until the end of the season. There are bigger games to come (even if the middle of next week is busy), but at the same time the competition for places in Liverpool’s midfield has become more intense. As a result, Gravenbirch’s development should not be rushed, but will provide a new layer of excitement as he continues to adapt to life at Liverpool and ultimately realize his potential.
