From the moment Ryan Gravenberch signed for Liverpool in September 2023 for around £34.2 million from Bayern Munich, expectations were tempered by the challenge any young midfielder faces when stepping into Klopp’s demanding system. But as Arne Slot has put his stamp on Liverpool, Gravenberch has quietly evolved from a player of promise into perhaps the most important figure in the team’s engine room. His growth under Slot is not just visible on the highlight reels, but in the structure, defensive solidity, transition play, and ultimately results.
In the 2024-25 season, Gravenberch played 37 Premier League matches, clocking more than 3,000 minutes for Liverpool in the league alone. While he didn’t score a goal during that season, he registered 4 assists, underscoring his role not as a flashy attacking midfielder but as someone who builds play, breaks lines, and provides cover for Liverpool’s forwards and more advanced midfielders. StatMuse+2StatMuse+2
But numbers tell only part of the story. Under Slot, Gravenberch’s positional intelligence has improved: he is being deployed deeper, more consistently as a defensive mid or pivot, with the responsibility not only to defend but to initiate transitions. He retrieves the ball, intercepts, and is increasingly confident carrying the ball forward. He is also starting to pop up with goals in 2025-26: in just four Premier League appearances so far, he has already netted 2 goals and laid on 1 assist, showing not only defensive and playmaking development but also increasing offensive threat. ESPN.com+2FotMob+2
What makes Gravenberch especially valuable is what he allows the rest of the team to do under Slot’s tactical blueprint. With Gravenberch holding the midfield, Liverpool’s more attacking talents — the likes of Salah, Wirtz, or Isak — get greater freedom to roam, press high, and exploit space, safe in the knowledge that behind them there is cover. His ball-carries, his ability to break lines under pressure, and his interception work (he led or was among the leading midfielders in interceptions for Liverpool in 2024-25) have all contributed materially to Liverpool conceding less and controlling games more. PFF FC BLOG+4Premier League+4FBref+4
One specific example of his importance came in the recent Merseyside derby, where Gravenberch opened the scoring with a composed strike, and his all-round midfield work helped Liverpool control the tempo and secure a 2-1 win. That goal was just one piece, but in that match his defensive positioning, contributions to pressing, and ground cover between the back-line and attack were essential. Reuters+2ESPN.com+2
Under Slot, Gravenberch has also benefitted from clearer role definitions, greater tactical trust, and improved physical conditioning. It’s no longer enough just to be physically robust; he is required to read the game, anticipate, and act. Slot has moulded the midfield so that Gravenberch functions almost as a fulcrum: turning defence into attack, recycling possession, cutting out danger, and freeing up his teammates to do what they do best. Without him, the midfield risk becomes unbalanced; with him, there is structure, poise, and control.
Looking ahead, the potential for Gravenberch is significant. He is still young (born in 2002), with many of his best years ahead of him. If he can stay fit (avoiding long absences), continue improving his tactical discipline, and perhaps contribute more consistently offensively, there is strong case to be made that he could become one of the best defensive midfielders the Premier League has seen in recent seasons — not just a supporting player, but a driver of Liverpool’s success under Arne Slot.
The Case for Gravenberch Shirt: Wear the Engine Room
For fans who recognise just how central Gravenberch has become — how much Liverpool’s recent stability, pressing, and control hinge on his presence — there is something special about wearing the shirt of someone who does more than score 20 goals a season but who wins the ball, keeps the tempo, and doesn’t get the headlines. Prism & Ink have understood this, with Gravenberch shirts that celebrate the defensive midfield role: subtle, strong, and built to reflect backbone rather than flash.
Wearing the Gravenberch jersey is a statement of understanding: that football is not just about goals but about control, balance, and the silent moments that decide matches.
If Gravenberch can continue to thrive under Slot, we might just look back at his evolution as one of Liverpool’s smartest moves — a player who gives the team its spine, and transforms everything around him. For fans who want to recognise that kind of player, there’s no better shirt to wear.
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