Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch failed to even get off the bench for the Premier League clash against Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday afternoon
Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
View Image
First up went the number of Dominik Szoboszlai. Then it was the turn of Rio Ngumoha. And, as Liverpool chased in vain for a late equaliser against Arsenal on Sunday, it was eventually time for Kostas Tsimikas, Lewis Koumas and Victor Munoz.
But throughout an ultimately frustrating afternoon at Anfield, Ryan Gravenberch was left kicking his heels sat on the bench as an unused substitute.
It was the first time since the 2-0 defeat at Everton in April 2024 the Netherlands international failed to play a single minute in a Premier League game for which he had been available.
But that Gravenberch's absence almost passed unnoticed amid the narrative of a contentious and damaging day for Liverpool said much about what continues to be the most difficult period of his Reds career.
READ MORE: Dominik Szoboszlai dismisses Liverpool streetwise claim after Arsenal controversy - 'not our type'
Indeed, from the moment he was substituted and later singled out by new head coach Andoni Iraola following a wayward display in the opening weekend 2-2 draw at Newcastle United, Gravenberch has struggled to reach anywhere near the consistent heights that made him an integral part of the 2024/25 title triumph under Arne Slot.
Fortune hasn't always favoured the 24-year-old. He was enjoying arguably his best game of the season against Manchester City last month when harshly shown two yellow cards and subsequently dismissed. From being goalless and building momentum, Liverpool went on to lose 3-0.
Google Preferred Source Badge
Google Preferred Source Badge
Matters weren't helped after the Arsenal game when eagle-eyed Liverpool supporters spotted Gravenberch had liked a post from Arsenal defender Jurrien Timber celebrating the Gunners victory.
It made little difference Timber is a former team-mate of Gravenberch at Ajax and a long-time friend. The timing and optics were sufficient for some Reds fans to be somewhat irked.
Make sure you never miss the latest Liverpool FC news and opinion by makingLiverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.
But the midfielder's campaign was perhaps best encapsulated in the Carabao Cup win over Chelsea last Wednesday when he performed poorly in midfield and then missed his spot kick in the shoot-out.
"He has had better games this season, worse games," said Iraola a few days later. "Lately he is playing a lot of minutes and has played also very good games recently.
"We trust him. We know what he can produce and like with other players, when they don’t play well, I try to help to improve the things I think he can improve. And when he is in a good place, try to keep him there. It’s the same with Ryan."
Getting Gravenberch back into a good place will be paramount for the Liverpool boss given the demands that continue after the forthcoming international break.
Approaching the end of a run of nine games in 29 days, the Reds will return in late November with a sequence of nine games in 28 days ahead of Christmas week.
To think it was only in March the 24-year-old's contribution and importance was rewarded with an improved six-year contract.
That, though, was under compatriot Slot, with whom he has played his best football for Liverpool having initially been signed by Jurgen Klopp from Bayern Munich in September 2023.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 2: Liverpool FC Head Coach Andoni Iraola concentrates after the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Leeds United at Soldier Field on August 2, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Liverpool's new head coach Andoni Iraola, pictured on the club's tour of the US(Michael Miller/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
While Gravenberch has yet to feel fully comfortable with the switch to a more aggressive, front-footed style under Iraola, his position was already being altered by Slot in the first half of last season when given greater licence to roam forward until results forced a more pragmatic approach on the Reds.
In the Premier League, defensively Gravenberch is averaging fewer tackles and interceptions per game than the last two seasons, and that he has lasted the 90 minutes just once means he is averaging less than half the amount of passes per game. The pass accuracy is also down.
He isn't the only player struggling to adapt, with Szoboszlai also not at the level shown in recent years. Instead, Alexis Mac Allister and 19-year-old Trey Nyoni have thus far been the biggest beneficiaries of Iraola's formative influence on the engine room.
With the returning Szoboszlai having missed five of the the previous games, that Nyoni was preferred to Gravenberch to make a first Premier League start alongside Mac Allister on Sunday was a major call from Liverpool boss Iraola that maybe hinted at the current pecking order in midfield.
There is plenty of time for that to change, with Gravenberch likely to be recalled for the Champions League clash at Fenerbahce on Wednesday. It would be an opportune moment for the Dutchman to post a reminder of his worth.