Ryan Gravenberch on midfield transformation, what's annoyed him this season and Liverpool transfer hope

Ryan

Ryan Gravenberch might have only celebrated his 23rd birthday earlier this month, but he has, rather impressively, already won five domestic titles in senior career.

A three-time Eredivisie winner with Ajax, he also won the Bundesliga title in his sole season with Bayern Munich prior to his move to Liverpool in the summer of 2023.

While the Reds missed out on the Premier League last year in his maiden campaign with the club, ultimately stumbling on the final straight in the title-race, that has proven to be the only blemish for the now Premier League-winning Dutchman in the past five years.

Now boasting four league titles in the past five years in three different nations, Gravenberch is perhaps obtaining a taste for sitting top of the tree.

But winning the Premier League with Liverpool will hit home a little differently, having played a pivotal role in Arne Slot’s side being crowned champions of England and belatedly shone outside of his homeland.

A star player under his compatriot, the Netherlands international has started all but one of Liverpool’s league matches to date in their title-winning campaign.

It comes in total contrast to his last league title with Bayern, where he endured a frustrating year and started just three times in the Bundesliga.

Having also been limited to a sporadic role under Jurgen Klopp last year, the fact that he is the favourite to win the Premier League Young Player of the Year award only reiterates just how impressive the 23-year-old’s turnaround in fortunes at Anfield has been.

Gravenberch himself admits he never foresaw the transformation coming.

“Personally, I feel that if you had said this to me before the start of the season I wouldn't have believed you,”

“But everything we dreamed of came true. I'm really happy.”

More is still to come, of course. While Anfield enjoyed a day it will never forget when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 to clinch the title last month, they have been made to wait to get their hands on the Premier League trophy.

The presentation will follow Sunday’s final game of the season at home to Crystal Palace, as Slot’s side become the first Reds side to hold aloft the trophy in front of supporters for 35 years.

Then on Bank Holiday Monday, Liverpool will embark on an open-top bus parade through the city to celebrate their latest triumph.

Gravenberch cannot wait. Having been left mesmerised by Anfield after beating Spurs, his excitement for the parade has only grown after being shown videos Virgil van Dijk recorded on his phone when showing off the European Cup around Liverpool back in 2019.

Gravenberch

“Oh, it was amazing (after beating Spurs),”

“I think I've never heard Anfield as loud as this. I think for everyone it was amazing, to secure the title, I saw only happy faces in the stadium.

“100 per cent (I’m excited for the presentation and parade). I saw some clips from Virg when they had the parade for the Champions League.

“And there were so many people, so I'm so excited about what's happening now. Imagine!”

While it has been a season to remember for Gravenberch and for Liverpool, one thing in particular has irked him - and it is something he hopes to put right against Crystal Palace.

The Dutchman has failed to score so far this season, with his last goal coming away at Fulham 13 months ago. Inevitably, he would like to break his drought against the Eagles - even if he might not be able to rely on any favours from Mohamed Salah should the Reds win a penalty!

“Yes (it annoys me),” he admitted. “Hopefully (I’m on free-kicks), maybe a penalty.

“I had a conversation with Dominik the other day before we played against Brighton. We were in the warm-up, you know, and I had some good finishes.

“He said, ‘I have a feeling you will score today’. I said, ‘hopefully, I have to score one’. So hopefully against Crystal Palace I can score.”