Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)placeholder image
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) | Getty Images
David James has backed this Liverpool star as Arne Slot’s most influential player so far this season
The Reds have struggled to keep a positive run of form going recently and their hopes of defending their Premier League title are now hanging by a thread.
However, Arne Slot has the tools he needs and James believes Ryan Gravenberch will be the driving force behind future success for the club, if he can continue to showcase the same impressive displays that have wowed the likes of the ex-Anfield star.
Ryan Gravenberch a key player for Liverpool this season
When asked who has been the standout player for Liverpool so far this season, James selected Gravenberch and analysed his improvement under Slot compared to the role he played while Jurgen Klopp was still at the club.
“Typically a very good midfielder, the ball comes in, they take a touch and they will take another touch to get out of a sticky situation. Whereas Ryan just seems to control and move the ball all in one movement, and it's just beautiful to watch. When he is on his game as he was against Real Madrid, you just can't get the ball off him,” James told LiverpoolWorld.
“I think when he's in that mode, he allows other players to do stuff. Last season, there was one game where he wasn't on it, which was Newcastle away and I was at the game and it started from the kick-off, he got tackled and he just was not on it. When it's not great, it's not great.”
Ryan Gravenberch can inspire Liverpool success, says David James
Indeed, Gravenberch has earned plenty of praise this season, particularly thanks to his goalscoring contributions in the Premier League.
The midfielder has been enjoying his creative play and has two goals and two assists in the league so far. His standout performance was against Everton, with a goal and an assist against the Reds’ bitter rivals.
Gravenberch was mostly a rotational player under Klopp but since Slot’s arrival, the Dutch midfielder has become a key part of the middle three. The 23-year-old missed just one top flight match last season, with the boss opting to rest him after a relentless run.
James believes if Gravenberch can continue to operate at the level fans have come accustomed to under Slot, he will be a key ingredient in a recipe for triumph for Liverpool.
“If Arne can keep him playing at that level, then that is going to be the catalyst and the foundation for Liverpool to be successful because I think he is exceptional,” the former Reds shot-stopper said.
“I think this is where people talk about Arne inheriting Jurgen’s team, but putting him in a different position to where Jurgen had him, has allowed him to be the player that he is.
“Is that good coaching? Yes, Ryan wasn't as good under Jurgen I would argue as he was last season for Arne, and this season again you're seeing just the brilliance of the player.”
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