Jurgen Klopp’s latest comments on new signing Ryan Gravenberch have seen the boss say the new signing COULD play at Liverpool’s No.6 – eventually.
The arrival of the 21-year-old Dutchman comes after Fabinho was called upon to replace the first-class midfielder, with 30-year-old Endo Wataru seen by many as a somewhat short-term solution.
Both Klopp and Gravenberch’s opening comments described the Reds’ new No.38 as a “box-to-box” midfielder, with Klopp even saying: “He can really be a box-to-box threat, he goes there.”
However, Klopp has now said that the former Ajax and Bayern Munich man can actually play the No.6 role when asked directly on Friday.
“I didn’t mention [the location], [Bayern Munich boss] Thomas Tuchel said that,” Klopp explained to reporters.
Tuchel said: “He is, for me, an attacking player, a box-to-box midfielder. He [Gravenberch] sees Liverpool as a chance to fight for eighth place in 4-3-3.”
Klopp continued: “I think he definitely has the potential to play as a number six in the future.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Tuesday, December 1, 2020: Mohamed Salah (L) of Liverpool tackles Ryan Gravenberch of Ajax during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Liverpool FC and AFC Ajax at Anfield. Liverpool won 1-0, won the group and reached the round of 16. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“The thing about Alexis Mac Allister – he can play that position – is; is he a classic 6 as you would draw it? Probably not. But the position in football has changed over the years. “He’s so smart that I don’t want to talk about things he’s not good at yet. They all have skills and yes they have to improve and he knows that and he’s trying, but the natural substance is there and everything else takes time and that’s how it is.”
Liverpool are said to see similarities in Gravenberch to Gini Wijnaldum, who mostly played the No.8 role but was also a No.6 at times, and Klopp’s comments certainly hinted at that.
“He’s an 8, he can definitely play with a 10 and yes, in time he can play with a six,” Klopp said.
“How Curtis [Jones] could play six. They just have to get used to different spaces and responsibilities.
“It’s not the hardest position in the world, it’s just one where you have to hold back a little bit every now and then.
“Hendo fought it to the end and made some spectacular plays in the sixth. [He would say], ‘But I can’t be involved in this or that from now on?’ That was the situation.”
“But other than that, [Gravenberch] is a real talent. So now we’ll have to see. Of course we have good players and we don’t need to push him because he is new, it is a medium-long term project and he is definitely with us and he will have enough opportunities to play.
Gravenberch will make his Liverpool debut at Wolves on Saturday, although likely from the bench.
