You could forgive the supporters of Liverpool to be concerned with the departure of Jurgen Klopp in the summer of 2024, which would lead to a period of decline in Anfield.
The German led the club to glory during its charm which lasted more than nine years, winning the Premier League and the Champions League during its mandate.
You just have to watch Arsenal and Manchester United from the departures of Arsène Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to see how an outing like this can be difficult to recover, because none of these clubs have won a title of Premier League without Wenger or Ferguson.
However, Arne Slot arrived from Feyenoord to replace Klopp in the canoe and hit the ground by winning the title of the League in her first year in Anfield.
The Dutch head coach was a fresh air puff in the Premier League last season with the GUNG-HO approach to his team for the matches. They were incredibly fun to watch.
One of the players who took the most of the managerial change of Klopp at the site is the defensive midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has been transformed in the last 18 months.
How Arne Slot saved the career of Ryan Gravenberch in Liverpool
Liverpool signed the international of the Netherlands of Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 to strengthen their options in the middle of the park, but he endured a first frustrating season in Anfield.
Gravenberch started only 12 of his 26 Premier League appearances under Klopp and mainly played as a left central midfielder, responsible for advancing to support the attack.
It was a role that was not suitable in the Dutch midfielder and his performances in this position led to his future in Anfield. Turkish giants Galatasaray were even linked to a decision for his services in April 2024.
However, the arrival of Slot at the club later this summer saved Gravenberch’s career at the club, because the head coach properly profiled where he would be the best, at the base of the midfielder as a number six.
|
Ryan Gravenberch (Premier League) |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances (starts) |
26 (12) |
37 (37) |
|
Precision |
83% |
89% |
|
Aid |
0 |
4 |
|
Access + interceptions per game |
1.5 |
3.4 |
|
Declared per match |
0.4 |
1.5 |
|
Duel success rate on the ground |
47% |
56% |
|
Air duel success rate |
42% |
65% |
|
Statistics via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman started 37 of his premier league appearances after being transferred to a defensive midfielder’s role, and his statistics show that it was a tactical decision that paid significantly.
Gravenberch started 49 of its appearances during the 2024/25 campaign for the Reds and obtained a place in the PFA team of the year for its performance as number six.
The 23 -year -old star seems to be a key player for Slot and Liverpool for many years to come, after a strong start to the 2025/26 campaign with two goals and two assists so far, by Sofascore.
In addition to having man himself, Liverpool also has an impressive teenage central midfielder who has the potential to be a local version of Gravenberch in the future.
Trey Nyoni started in the middle of the park for the Reds Against Championship Southampton on Tuesday evening and the contrast of his performance in the first half at the second half is similar to the development of Gravenberch throughout his career in Anfield.
Why Trey Nyoni could be the next eight issue of Liverpool
As a graduate of the Academy who plays in the central midfielder, the 18 -year -old star could have his eyes to grab the Eight Home number of Dominik Szoboszlai in the future.
The Hungarian international is the star who is currently wearing it, but it was the graduate of the Steven Gerrard Academy who really gave him meaning with his 186 goals in 710 games for the club in all competitions, according to Transfermarkt.
Nyoni mainly put on the eight number number at the level of young people for Liverpool, which suggests that he is a fan of the number, and as the local talent of the Academy, he may want to imitate a small percentage of what Gerrard has achieved with the Eight number shirt in Anfield.
Despite this, this is the number six position where the future of Nyoni could lie after what he showed on the field against Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday evening.
England U19 International began the game as a number ten behind Alexander Isak, but did not seem suitable for this position. However, when Curtis Jones went out for Conor Bradley after 57 minutes, Nyoni fell deeper and took control of the game.
|
VS Southampton |
Trey Nyoni |
|---|---|
|
Minutes |
90 |
|
Precision |
96% |
|
The finished passes |
43/45 |
|
Key passes |
0 |
|
Duels have won |
2/4 |
|
Clearance |
3 |
|
Blocks |
1 |
|
Decrees + interceptions |
3 |
|
DRIBLBLé by match |
0x |
|
Statistics via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, his statistics looked much more like what you expect from a defensive midfielder than a number ten, playmaker, type.
Nyoni did not record any blows on the target or created a chance for his team while playing as ten, but his defensive contributions and his reliability as a smuggler when they fell into a deep role proved that he had a future as a number six.
Like the writer focused on Liverpool, Lewis Bower, noted it after the match, the 18 -year -old talent seemed much more “influential” when he fell into a deeper midfielder, rather than an attacking midfielder.
His metronomic death in the middle of the park coupled to his defensive force suggests that he could have the potential to become the next Gravenberch in the future, because he is five years younger than the Dutchman.
Gravenberch’s Liverpool’s career took off after being moved from an attacker or central midfielder at a number six. Nyoni’s attributes suggest that a similar change in position could forge a future in the first team in Anfield.
This could therefore put him on his way to win the number eight in Liverpool, while he seeks to follow in the footsteps of Gerrard from the Academy to the renowned of the first team.
