Ryan Gravenberch may very well prove to be the steal of the summer transfer window if he can keep up these kinds of performances for Liverpool.
In only his sixth outing for the Merseysiders, coming in a Europa League clash with Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, the Dutchman scored just before the half-time break and registered a host of impressive stats, as recorded by Bence Bocsak on X.
🇳🇱 Ryan Gravenberch in that first half for #LFC:
– Won the most duels (5)
– Completed the most dribbles (3)
– Created the most chances (2)And he got the opening goal as well. What a performance from him.
That’s a goal and two assists in his first three starts. pic.twitter.com/RXHELHOqXH
— Bence Bocsák (@BenBocsak) October 5, 2023
The 37-touch midfielder also recorded a pass accuracy of 77%, provided two key passes and won five out of seven ground duels he contested, according to data collected by Sofascore.
We’ll hold off from saying that Gravenberch is the best thing sliced bread, but the fact remains that the former Bayern Munich player looks a man utterly reborn in the famous red shirt.
Clearly, with all due respect to Thomas Tuchel and Bayern Munich, it wasn’t a good fit between the Bavarians and our latest Dutch sensation.
Whatever the case, his re-introduction to the footballing world has just further evidenced the remarkable hit rate of our recruitment team.
Credit to the manager and our data boffins for having faith in the prospect of revitalising a talent half of Europe was once desperate to sign from Ajax’s famous production line. It looks like it’s already paid off massively.
Liverpool fans will adore what Union SG’s travelling support did prior to kick-off at Anfield
On their first visit to Anfield, Union Saint-Gilloise supporters may have already made themselves one of the most popular groups of away fans among their Liverpool counterparts.
Tonight’s Europa League clash marks a debut meeting between the two clubs, and the Belgian visitors appear to be savouring every moment of their trip to Merseyside.
Paul Gorst noticed the away support doing something very rarely seen from that part of the Anfield Road Stand, posting on X prior to kick-off: “Both sets of fans joined in You’ll Never Walk Alone there. The USG supporters have been great value already.”
One of the most pleasurable things about Liverpool’s European games is the camaraderie from supporters of the Reds’ opponents, something which was in evidence from the hospitality afforded by LASK fans when Jurgen Klopp’s side were in Austria a couple of weeks ago.
Usually when You’ll Never Walk Alone is played at Anfield in the minutes before kick-off, the away supporters will either try (and fail) to drown it out with their own team’s anthem, childishly boo during it or, worse still, engage in sinister chanting which has no place in football or society.
It was therefore hugely refreshing to hear the Union SG supporters joining in with YNWA and revelling in their trip to one of the most iconic stadia in the world.
It’s fantastic to see the Belgian fans enjoying their visit to Liverpool, but we still very much want a home win tonight!