Arne Slot named the unlikely Liverpool player he's been most surprised by this season

Liverpool are flying nether the guidance of Arne Slot successful what is the Dutchman’s debut season, and 1 subordinate successful peculiar has made a stellar relationship of themselves

Arne Slot has been astir impressed with holding midfield anchor Ryan Gravenberch so acold this play astatine Liverpool.

The Reds person enjoyed a run to remember frankincense far. They’ve stormed done the Champions League radical phase, are rampant successful the Premier League – sitting six points wide astatine the apical with a crippled successful hand – and person an FA Cup tally awaiting them arsenic good arsenic a League Cup final connected the horizon.

While brag Slot has hit the crushed moving with precise small turbulence, 1 unexpected astonishment has been the revelation of his countryman Gravenberch astatine the basal of his midfield – a relation that the youngster played to large aplomb successful his side's elemental 4-0 victory implicit Tottenham successful the Carabao Cup semi-final 2nd limb connected Thursday night.

The 22-year-old, signed from Bayern Munich successful the summertime of 2023 for £34million, initially failed to unit his mode into the archetypal XI regularly nether Jurgen Klopp. But helium has present emerged into a composed anchor successful beforehand of the top-flight’s champion defence – and specified an emergence supposedly wasn’t thing Slot anticipated.

“I deliberation Gravenberch has been 1 of the surprises of the season,“ stated pundit Gary Lineker connected The Rest Is Football podcast. “Even Arne Slot said however amazed however bully helium was erstwhile helium came successful erstwhile I spoke to him successful an interrogation a week oregon truthful ago. Dangerous player. He’s been superb.”

Despite Lineker echoing Slot’s claims, successful the summer, it seemed apt that a bonafide No. 6 would get astatine Anfield to displace Gravenberch. The nine were successful blistery pursuit of Real Sociedad enforcer Martin Zubimendi, but talks collapsed erstwhile helium opted to enactment successful Spain – and helium looks poised to take rivals Arsenal alternatively this coming summer.

With fewer different options, Slot made the determination to basal the Dutchman astatine the ft of his newly-formed midfield, and it has evidently paid dividends.

Gravenberch has not lone amazed his caller manager with his performances – which person led to him starting each Premier League fixture frankincense acold – but the midfielder has besides amazed himself.

“Yeah,” Gravenberch told Liverpool’s nine website, asked if helium was taken aback by his ain classy antiaircraft play. “Because, to beryllium honest, arsenic an eight, you are much attacking and not a batch of defending. But the defending portion I bash besides truly well, truthful I impressment myself a small bit.

“Back successful the days erstwhile I played with Ajax successful the younker [team], I didn't similar to defend! I didn't similar that much. But now, erstwhile you instrumentality disconnected the shot from different player, it's like, 'yes, I person it!' I privation to instrumentality the adjacent 1 and the adjacent 1 again. I bask it.

“It came rather naturally. When I archetypal spoke with the coach, helium said to me, 'I spot you arsenic a No. 8 similar past season, but I privation to effort you arsenic a No. 6 arsenic well.' So, I was like, 'OK, yeah, we tin bash it!' I said to him, 'of course, we tin bash it!' And the remainder is history.

“Obviously, I get the minutes now, and I conscionable effort to beryllium accordant and amusement myself each game. I deliberation it's going truly well. I truly bask it. I'm feeling truly good.”

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