Ryan Gravenberch was supposed to be one of the foundations of Liverpool’s new midfield.
Instead, the Dutchman is suddenly fighting for his place. 😬🔴
And this isn’t simply a case of a player being rotated.
Andoni Iraola appears to have discovered a midfield combination he trusts more, and Gravenberch is the one paying the price.
The warning signs were already there.
After Liverpool’s opening games, questions began to emerge about whether Gravenberch was suited to operating as the deepest midfielder in Iraola’s system. His natural instincts are more progressive than purely defensive, and that can become dangerous when Liverpool push numbers forward and subsequently lose possession.
Then came Atlético Madrid.
And Iraola made his decision.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai started in midfield.
Gravenberch watched from the bench.
Again.
It was his third consecutive game without a start. 😳
And what happened?
Mac Allister scored the winner.
Szoboszlai produced a magnificent performance, scoring Liverpool’s equaliser and earning Player of the Match recognition from UEFA’s technical observers after recording 87 touches, five key passes and six dribbles.
Suddenly, Iraola had a very difficult reason to change anything.
Because his preferred midfield was working.
🧠 IRAOLA MAY HAVE FOUND HIS FORMULA
The tactical problem is fascinating.
Iraola wants Liverpool to press aggressively, recover the ball high and attack quickly.
That requires midfielders who can cover ground, compete physically and immediately turn defensive situations into attacking ones.
Mac Allister brings control and intelligence.
Szoboszlai brings energy, pressing, vertical runs and an enormous attacking threat.
And ahead of them sits Florian Wirtz.
That combination gives Liverpool a midfield capable of pressing, creating and arriving in the penalty area.
UEFA’s tactical analysis of the Atlético victory specifically highlighted Szoboszlai’s driving runs and his role in Liverpool’s tactical adjustment after Atlético’s unexpected five-man midfield caused problems.
So where does that leave Gravenberch?
On the outside looking in. 👀
😬 THE PROBLEM WITH GRAVENBERCH
Nobody doubts his talent.
The issue is balance.
Gravenberch is an elegant midfielder who likes carrying the ball, progressing play and moving forward. But asking him to operate as the team’s primary defensive screen can expose Liverpool when possession turns over.
That weakness was visible during the opening-day draw at Newcastle, where Liverpool’s midfield was repeatedly vulnerable to transitions. Tactical analysis subsequently questioned whether Gravenberch and Szoboszlai could provide enough defensive discipline as a double pivot.
And that is exactly the type of problem Iraola cannot afford.
Imagine Wirtz ahead of you.
Imagine your full-backs pushing forward.
Imagine your forwards pressing high.
If Liverpool lose the ball, someone has to slam the door shut. 🚪💥
If nobody does, one pass can suddenly expose the entire team.
That’s why midfield balance matters more than simply putting the most talented players on the pitch.
🔥 BUT HERE’S THE TWIST
Gravenberch isn’t finished.
Not even close.
The season is long.
Liverpool will play Premier League football, Champions League football and domestic cup matches. Injuries, suspensions, fatigue and tactical changes will inevitably create opportunities.
And Liverpool have already seen how quickly circumstances can change.
Against Atlético, Gravenberch eventually came on, although his cameo did little to strengthen his argument for an immediate return to the starting XI.
That doesn’t mean Iraola has given up on him.
It means the Dutchman now has something to prove.
💥 AND THAT COULD BE EXACTLY WHAT GRAVENBERCH NEEDS
There is a difference between being dropped and being written off.
Iraola appears to be challenging Gravenberch to become more complete.
Can he defend with greater discipline?
Can he protect the centre-backs?
Can he resist the temptation to constantly move forward?
Can he play quickly enough when Liverpool regain possession?
Can he become the midfielder who makes the spectacular players around him better rather than competing with them for attacking responsibility?
If he answers those questions, everything changes.
Because imagine a version of Gravenberch who combines his ball-carrying ability with elite defensive discipline. 😮💨🔥
That player would be incredibly valuable.
😳 AND THEN THERE IS FLORIAN WIRTZ
This is where the situation becomes even more complicated.
Liverpool spent a British-record £116 million on Wirtz, and Iraola has increasingly structured the attack around him as the No.10. The manager has defended Wirtz’s performances despite his relatively modest goal and assist numbers, pointing instead to his pressing, movement and contribution to Liverpool’s attacking structure.
That means the midfield behind Wirtz needs to provide security.
Wirtz needs freedom.
He needs to roam.
He needs to find pockets.
He needs runners around him.
And Liverpool need players behind him who can clean up when attacks break down.
Right now, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai appear to be giving Iraola that balance more convincingly than Gravenberch.
⚔️ THE BATTLE ISN’T OVER
This could become one of the most fascinating selection battles at Liverpool this season.
Gravenberch has the talent.
Mac Allister has the control.
Szoboszlai has the intensity.
Wirtz has the creativity.
Iraola has to somehow make all of it fit.
And that might be the biggest tactical challenge of his entire Liverpool project.
Because Liverpool don’t have a shortage of quality.
They have a shortage of spaces. 😮💨
Only three midfielders can start.
Someone is going to be disappointed.
Right now, that someone is Ryan Gravenberch.
But football has a funny way of changing everything overnight.
One injury.
One tactical adjustment.
One brilliant substitute appearance.
One dominant performance in training.
And suddenly the player sitting on the bench becomes impossible to leave out.
So don’t write Gravenberch off just yet.
Because if Iraola manages to unlock the defensive side of his game, Liverpool could suddenly have another monster in midfield. 🔴🔥
The battle for Liverpool’s midfield is officially ON. And Ryan Gravenberch has a point to prove. 👊⚽
For Gravenberch’s Liverpool future
Show where Gravenberch fits best
Test the three-man midfield
