First impressions are everything and Ryan Gravenberch couldn’t have made a bigger statement without even kicking a ball.
‘Ryan Gravenberch has indicated to KNVB coach Michael Reiziger that he wants to focus on his new club.’
That was the top line of a news release from Holland’s communications team on Monday morning, confirming that Liverpool’s 21-year-old new boy had turned down an opportunity to represent his country in order to bed in with the Reds.
Rejecting the chance to play for your country is bold, at the best of times, but what marker does that set for his Liverpool chances?
The German expressed his feelings on the ‘unfortunate’ situation where he would only get one training session with Gravenberch before he jetted off for their U21 European Championship qualifiers against Moldova and Macedonia.
“Really happy to bring him in because he’s an exceptional talent. Everybody knows that. He is 21, played over 100 games for Ajax already,” said the German tactician.
“I wouldn’t even say difficult season at Bayern because in that age group it’s completely normal; you go into a world-class team and he had his minutes and stuff like this.
“But how Thomas Tuchel said today in the press conference in Munich I think, the position he is best at, they don’t really have in their system. We have that – that’s good. We have a lot of games to play. We will see how long he needs now because I don’t know, we need to have a look at that,” he added.
“He had a full pre-season, that’s good. The medical was as clear as it can be pretty much, looks really fit. That’s all positive. Unfortunately, we have now an international break and cannot work directly together, he is I think with the U21s for Holland.
“But when he is back we start it. Very excited about it. He is a smart boy. When I talked to him I realised that pretty quickly. And he loves to be here, it’s a good thing as well.”
A debutant at 16 with Ajax, the midfielder has been around senior football for seven years after being handed his debut by Erik ten Hag. He made a dream move to Bayern Munich, although it ultimately didn’t transpire that way after being handed three starts in his 34-appearance-long stint in Bavaria.
The move from Munich to Merseyside saw the 21-year-old go from a square peg in a round hole – in relation to Thomas Tuchel’s system – to a fierce battle for midfield starting positions at Anfield.
Now, Klopp has one more player at his disposal during the international break in Gravenberch. The former Bayern Munich midfielder watched on, at Anfield, as the Reds cruised to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa, days after penning a five-year deal.
A missed deadline squashed any faint hopes of the Dutchman being a late addition to the matchday squad to face Unai Emery’s side, on Sunday.
He did manage to earn a work-permit on Saturday, thus allowing one training session with his new teammates before the squad jetted across the world on their respective international adventures.
Liverpool’s display against the Midlands side was impressive. They harried in the press, they defended resolutely and they commanded the midfield. The latter being the most relevant and important to Gravenberch.
Wataru Endo, a fellow summer signing, made a late cameo as he adjusts to life in the Premier League. Stefan Bajcetic is still awaiting his first competitive minutes, after recovering from an adductor problem that has kept him out since March. Curtis Jones started for Liverpool, lasting 65 minutes upon his return to the starting line-up, before being replaced by fellow Englishman, Harvey Elliott.
They are just four of the midfield options available, when fit, for Klopp. Not to mention, Alexis Mac Allister – who hasn’t put a foot wrong since his move from Brighton & Hove Albion.
Hungary captain, Dominik Szoboszlai, a player quickly endearing himself to the Anfield faithful in the infancy of his Liverpool career and Thiago Alcantara, who is set for another spell on the sidelines after a setback in his recovery, are further options in the reloaded engine room.
If there was a game to watch your new club in, there aren’t many better examples than Liverpool against Aston Villa on Sunday. On the other side of the coin, for the deadline day arrival, the midfield display possibly provides an insight into just how difficult it will be to cement a starting position with the Reds.
It means that Gravenberch may not find life any easier on Merseyside than he did in Bavaria in terms of competition for places, and he’ll need every advantage he can get.
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