Alexis Mac Allister has been the pick of the signings that Liverpool made in the summer of 2024. Meanwhile, Dominik Szoboszlai has shown what he can become and Wataru Endō has surpassed the expectations of even those who knew what he could offer.
It has been a stop-start season for Ryan Gravenberch, though. The 21-year-old Netherlands international arrived from Bayern Munich in search of more game time but the only time he has played 90 minutes for Liverpool to date was against Norwich City in the FA Cup.
Aside from that, Gravenberch has started only 10 times in the Premier League (he has been substituted in all of them) and his appearances have mainly come in the Europa League. There is, quite clearly, more to come from him, but with Jürgen Klopp leaving and a new manager coming in shortly, there is both a risk and an opportunity at play.
Gravenberch was signed in part because of how big a talent he is and in part because he is so moldable. Still so young, but with experience now at three elite clubs in Ajax, Bayern and the Reds, he should be a dream package for a coach to come in and use.
There is, though, a question mark about the $43m (£34m/€40m) transfer. Ahead of him in the pecking order right now (broadly in this order) are Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endō and Harvey Elliott. The next Liverpool boss might also see Trent Alexander-Arnold playing in that position — or might have a system where there are only two players deployed in the center of the pitch rather than three.
Next season, Thiago Alcântara is unlikely to be at Anfield but the Spaniard has barely played a minute this year anyway. More pertinently, the talented Stefan Bajčetić should be back up and running and in the mix for more minutes. He can be added to the above list of players who have done more to warrant a starting place as things stand.
Getting a run in the team will be vital for Gravenberch to establish himself and achieve what he couldn’t in a year at Bayern Munich. But where that run comes remains to be seen. At this stage of the season, it is unlikely to be under Klopp.
Given the injury situation has cleared up somewhat for Liverpool at this point in the campaign and there are likely only to be eight games remaining assuming a remarkable comeback against Atalanta isn’t pulled off next Thursday, there is only going to be a limited amount of rotation required. In many matches before the season is out, Gravenberch might not even be needed off the bench.
There is no doubting the player’s ability and not 22 until mid-May, there is plenty of time for him to improve — the raw ingredients are all there to be worked on. For the next Liverpool manager, though, Gravenberch is perhaps the player with the biggest question mark hanging over him in terms of the extent of his future role.
