{"id":1481551,"date":"2026-08-24T17:57:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&p=1481551"},"modified":"2026-08-24T17:57:02","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:57:02","slug":"liverpool-analysis-ryan-gravenberch","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/liverpool-analysis-ryan-gravenberch\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool Analysis: Why Ryan Gravenberch is a problem for Andoni Iraola\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s been a topic of conversation among Liverpool<\/a> fans all summer and it\u2019ll likely dominate the discussion ahead of their next Premier League game at home to Nottingham Forest. Questions remain over the midfield, and there\u2019s now more scrutiny than ever on that area of the team following the 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool needed a 99th-minute penalty away at St James\u2019 Park to secure a point against a much-changed Newcastle side. The Magpies lost Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in the summer, while Joelinton and Dan Burn missed Sunday\u2019s game through injury. New manager Matthias Jaissle, who replaced Eddie Howe earlier this month, selected Lewis Miley and Sean Steur in a double pivot and the duo, with an average age of just 19, did an admirable job against the reigning champions\u2019 midfield pairing of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The fact the Reds failed to dominate a weakened Newcastle side has led many to question whether the double pivot selected by Andoni Iraola is viable in the long term, with Jamie Carragher tweeting: \u201cLFC Midfield all bombing forward happened all pre-season, madness!\u201d after the Magpies took an early lead through Anthony Elanga\u2019s blistering counter-attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Szoboszlai emphatically converted from the penalty spot late on with a finish that helped mask his overall performance. As a result, Gravenberch, his midfield partner on the day, has become the main talking point, with some now questioning whether his new long-term deal at Anfield was smart business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lightning strikes twice<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gravenberch was almost flawless in possession, finding a teammate with close to 92% of his attempted passes at St James\u2019 Park. However, he misplaced four passes and two of those led directly to goals for the hosts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early in the game, the Dutchman carried the ball forward well and had several options ahead of him. He could have tried to slide Alexander Isak through on goal or picked out Szoboszlai to his right as the No.8 raced into the penalty area. Instead, he played a pass that was too far ahead of Florian Wirtz, behind Isak and nowhere near Cody Gakpo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Newcastle dealt with it and, in the blink of an eye, Elanga was through on goal after the Magpies had raced through the middle of the pitch, left vacant by Gravenberch and Szoboszlai.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just moments after the Reds equalised, with Gravenberch claiming an assist, the Dutchman played another questionable pass. Again, Newcastle hit them on the break. Several players failed to do their jobs in the aftermath before Joe Willock curled an effort beyond Alisson, but it all started with another poor pass from the former Ajax man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He failed in two key moments and then wasn\u2019t in position to help defend the counter. It has left some fans questioning whether he is suited to the role he currently occupies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Square pegs in round holes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The elephant in the room is that neither Gravenberch nor Szoboszlai are what you would call natural double-pivot midfielders, especially not in an Iraola system. Last term, the Spanish tactician paired Alex Scott and Tyler Adams with great success. Bournemouth had a clear balance to that midfield. It\u2019s a balance that is noticeably lacking at Liverpool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither player has strong defensive instincts. Neither naturally wants to dominate the space that would allow the Reds to control possession. Both would benefit from a more defensively minded midfielder behind them, but that isn\u2019t possible in Iraola\u2019s 4-2-3-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Right now, Gravenberch is being shoehorned into a role that doesn\u2019t necessarily suit him. That is partly because options are limited following the sale of Curtis Jones, while Alexis Mac Allister returned late to pre-season after his World Cup exploits. His new, bumper contract also adds another layer to the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Reds aren\u2019t in a position to bench a high earner. Through no fault of his own, Gravenberch is being judged on things he has never been a natural at doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Liverpool\u2019s title-winning season, Gravenberch wasn\u2019t a defensive midfielder. He operated as a pressure release valve, tasked with breaking the lines in possession when the Reds couldn\u2019t progress play through Trent Alexander-Arnold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Deja vu in midfield<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game against Newcastle United felt eerily similar to several matches from last season. Liverpool had plenty of possession and created more chances but struggled to deal with counter-attacks. Neither midfielder dominated their duels, which only exposed the issue further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is the problem Slot couldn\u2019t solve and one Iraola will now need to address. If he wants a long-term future at Anfield, he must find a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He recognises the issue and addressed it in his post-match interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just not personnel, I understand, you are telling me basically that Ryan Gravenberch is the six and he is on the edge of the box, but if he shoots and he scores we are saying \u2018what a play from Ryan Gravenberch\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI also don\u2019t want to take this from his game, but we have to adapt as a team to these situations and we have to know that these situations can happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe second goal probably, we did better in terms of having the numbers to defend, we don\u2019t make the foul, go to the first challenge, probably reduce the distance with the ball-carrier, so it\u2019s an incredible goal. Situations [are] just not because one person is playing there, [it] is something that we have to correct between a lot of players.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Liverpool can hide individual weaknesses when they defend effectively as a team. But Gravenberch has never been a natural defensive midfielder, and there\u2019s little to suggest that will suddenly become the strongest part of his game.<\/p>\n\n\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n