Ryan Gravenberch is poised to make his first Liverpool appearance under Andoni Iraola when the Reds take on Championship side Wrexham at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday
16:55, 28 Jul 2026
Ryan Gravenberch is looking forward to playing under Andoni Iraola
Ryan Gravenberch is looking forward to playing under Andoni Iraola(Image: LFC TV)
Ryan Gravenberch is excited to play for new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola because of his "principles" and style of soccer.
Iraola was appointed by the Reds earlier this summer following Arne Slot's exit. Slot was fired by the Merseyside club after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign, during which Liverpool finished fifth in the Premier League and missed out on silverware.
Slot also faced criticism for his style of play, which often lacked intensity out of possession and aggression in attack. Iraola has been tasked with deploying a high-octane brand of soccer at Anfield, similar to that championed by legendary Reds boss Jurgen Klopp.
Gravenberch, who was signed by Klopp before flourishing under Slot as a defensive midfielder, recently linked up with his Liverpool teammates after competing in the World Cup with the Netherlands. He's been impressed with Iraola's work so far.
"Yes, I’m really looking forward to it," Gravenberch told Liverpool's in-house media when asked about working with Iraola.
"Just the principles that he has, with the intensity he plays, what he did with his former club – he did a really great job. So, I’m really excited (about) what he will bring to the team."
Gravenberch is poised to play a key role under Iraola this coming season
Gravenberch is poised to play a key role under Iraola this coming season(Image: Getty)
Former Ajax star Gravenberch has seen it all since joining Liverpool from Bayern Munich three years ago. He won the Carabao Cup during his first season at Anfield before Klopp, who recently returned to soccer management with Germany, left the club.
Gravenberch's second season was his best yet. The midfielder was named the Premier League Young Player of the Season after helping the Reds win their 20th top-flight title, capping off a memorable first year in charge for Slot.
Yet Gravenberch and his teammates struggled to show their best last season, only clinching a Champions League spot on the final day of the campaign. Liverpool finished just three points ahead of Bournemouth in sixth, with the Cherries overachieving under Iraola.
Gravenberch was impressed by the work Iraola did at Bournemouth and hopes he can enjoy even more success at Liverpool. The 24-year-old added: "I was really impressed. I think they ended up behind us last season.
"With Bournemouth, it’s a really great job. When we played against them, it was always a tough game, so I think he did a really good job, and hopefully he can do it here as well."
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Gravenberch didn't feature in Liverpool's 4-2 victory against Sunderland at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on Saturday, but he is in contention to play against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York on Wednesday.
The final game of Liverpool's tour of the United States is against Leeds at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday. The Reds will then return to Merseyside for friendlies against Monaco and Como on August 9 and August 16, respectively.
On playing in preseason, Gravenberch continued: "Yeah, really excited. The next friendly is against Wrexham, so we will see, maybe I get a few minutes there, and I’m really excited to play again."