Liverpool’s recent 2-1 defeat at Molineux has cast a spotlight on the evolving tactical challenges facing midfield star Ryan Gravenberch.
After a stellar 2024-25 campaign where he was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, the 23-year-old is finding life much more difficult in Arne Slot’s second season at the helm.
Following a frustrating first half against Wolves, Gravenberch was substituted at the interval the first time he has been hooked at halftime this season. The tactical shift came after the Dutchman struggled to impose himself, losing all six of his attempted ground duels and picking up a yellow card that left him walking a disciplinary tightrope.
Opponents closing the gap on Gravenberch
Arne Slot believes that Gravenberch’s dip in form is not merely a personal slump, but rather a result of Premier League managers specifically designing “anti-Gravenberch” blueprints to stunt Liverpool’s progression.
“I think it’s clear to everyone that Ryan is really comfortable on the ball, and that he can drive the ball through the midfield,” Slot explained via the Liverpool ECHO. “What could be an answer to that is making sure the distances are so small that he doesn’t have a lot of space in between the lines. It’s not so complicated to see what our quality is in terms of our team and we almost see every game what the answer to our quality is.”
The Molineux melting point
Gravenberch’s afternoon at Wolves was defined by a lack of rhythm and a lethargy that allowed the hosts to kill Liverpool’s attacks at the source. After a series of fouls, referee Thomas Bramall eventually cautioned him for a challenge on Joao Gomes.
Slot admitted the substitution was a proactive move to avoid a red card, even if he disagreed with the official’s initial assessment.
“I took him off because he got a yellow for a foul that wasn’t a foul,” Slot said. “And then afterwards he was doing a bit of holding and that player fell down again, and I saw the referee doubting, doubting, doubting, so I thought, maybe it’s smart to take him off.”
Despite Curtis Jones replacing him to partner Alexis Mac Allister in the 4-2-3-1 formation, Liverpool could not prevent a late collapse. A lapse in communication between Jones and Alisson Becker allowed Wolves Andre to strike the decisive blow a goal that took a cruel deflection off Joe Gomez.
With teams sitting deeper and condensing the midfield, Liverpool’s fluidity has suffered. Slot noted that when open play is stifled, the Reds must become more clinical in other areas.
“One of the ways to respond to that is scoring from set-pieces. If it’s hard to generate chances from open play then you have to score from set-pieces, which didn’t go particularly well against Wolves, although our biggest chance again came from a set-piece,” Slot added.
“That’s the way certain playing styles are being broken down. We have to try as much as we can to generate more from open play, but we’re not the only team that are having that (problem).”
The Andre irony and squad depth concerns
The defeat was made more bitter by the performance of Andre. The Brazilian, who Liverpool heavily scouted in 2023 before Fluminense blocked a move, put on a defensive midfield masterclass. He won seven of 10 ground duels and recorded 10 recoveries, highlighting the exact profile of player Liverpool currently lacks in reserve.
With Wataru Endo sidelined by injury and struggling for minutes under Slot, Gravenberch has been forced to play nearly every minute. While he was playing on merit during last season’s title-winning charge, there are growing fears that his current inclusion is due to a dearth of options rather than peak performance.
The Reds don’t have to wait long for a chance at revenge. Tonight, Liverpool return to Molineux for a high-stakes FA Cup fifth-round clash, with Arne Slot demanding an immediate response to Tuesday’s “annoying” lapse in concentration.
With the Premier League title going elsewhere the FA Cup represents a vital path to silverware for Slot in a turbulent campaign. The spotlight remains firmly on the midfield selection; after Gravenberch’s difficult outing earlier this week, Slot must decide whether to trust the Dutchman to play through the pressure or hand a start to Curtis Jones.
“We have to be better than we were the last time we played Wolves,” Slot warned in his pre-match press conference. “Tomorrow the FA Cup is on the line and that’s a massive game for us.”
As the 8:00 PM GMT kick-off approaches, all eyes will be on whether Liverpool can finally solve the tactical puzzle or if they will fall victim to another late heartbreak in the West Midlands.