**Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi-Mikel has shared what he was most impressed by as Ryan Gravenberch made the heart of the Liverpool midfield his own this season.**
For all the transfer talk flying around at the moment, it’s no surprise that Liverpool are not being linked with a new No.6. Before the season started, Arne Slot was trying to sign Martin Zubimendi, but most fans are delighted the Dutch manager didn’t get his man.
Instead, he trusted Gravenberch to follow his instructions and that faith was paid back tenfold.
The result? A first Premier League title for each and Liverpool’s 20th league title, drawing them level with Manchester United, strtengthening their claim as the most successful club in English football.
Obi-Mikel, one of the finest midfielders of his generation, has now shared what he enjoyed the most about seeing Gravenberch given the chance in Liverpool’s engine room.
Arne Slot gets his flowers for display of faith in young Gravenberch from John Obi-Mikel
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When Slot made the decision to hang the fate of his midfield on 22-year-old Gravenberch, he was only 22. In fact, the former Bayern Munich star only turned 23 a couple of weeks ago.
Yet, he rose to the challenge and while his energy levels flagged later in the season after playing so many games, he comfortably earned the Premier League Young Player of the Season award.
Speaking on his Obi One Podcast, the former Chelsea midfielder paid homage to league champion Gravenberch.
_“So for me, partner who’s going to partner Caicedo, I have to go with Gravenberch as well. Liverpool, I think he’s had a great season. A player that didn’t get a kick under Jürgen Klopp. Sometimes that demoralises a player,”_ Obi-Mikel said.
Obi-Mikel continued_: “That knocks a lot of confidence out of the player. But Slot has come in and said, listen, I am not going to go out. Yes, they did want to bring Zubimendi._
_“Didn’t get him. But then the man was like, okay, you know what? I’m going to work with what I have. And Gravenberch, you’re going to be that guy. You’re going to be my man._
_“And he’s taking up that responsibility and be like, you know what? I’m going to show you that you don’t need anyone else._
_“I’m going to be that guy. And he’s done that fantastic season. He’s had Gravenberch, you know, the way he runs with the ball, the way he has the legs, doesn’t he? When you talk about midfield players, he has the legs to go forward and back. He’s always there protecting the back. So for me, those two, Caicedo and Gravenberch.”_