Written by Priya Kaur and Conor McLarnon
In a recent discussion surrounding the current strong links between The Reds and The Netherlands, particularly Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch, we interviewed former Eredivisie forward turned pundit, Anco Janssen who provided great insight into a number of current Dutch Reds.
While everyone has rightly been raving about the prolific form of Mohamed Salah and Luiz Diaz in the last few weeks, Holland international duo Gravenberch and Gakpo have shown that they could play a vital part in Liverpool’s success this season.
Having signed from Bayern Munich following a disappointing spell post-Ajax stardom, Gravenberch has shown great potential at such a young age, bursting onto the scene in the Eredivisie.
With Liverpool finding themselves light in midfield with several high-profile departures in the last couple of years, the deadline day signing of the 22-year-old had brought an assurance to the fans that they will maintain the quality that brought so much success under Klopp.
In the last few games, Gravenberch has helped orchestrate many attacks, and he has also shown his defensive qualities. Arne Slot stated after the victory against AC Milan “You see a Ryan who is full of confidence and that comes normally with good performances and trusting your teammates”.
The same can be said of Gakpo who has been here a little longer than the elegant midfielder but has an array of attributes that help the team perform as well as they have been. Although he might not have been getting the amount of minutes he would have liked, Gapko shows intent and hunger every time he comes off the bench.
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Starting with Gakpo, Anco noted that the player is best known for his role as a left-winger, where he excels at cutting inside and shooting with his strong left foot.
While Jurgen Klopp utilised Gakpo centrally, Anco stated that “when I saw him at his best, he was always on the left.”
However, competition on that side at Liverpool is fierce, making it harder for Gakpo to secure a permanent spot.
Despite the competition, Gakpo remains a “graceful and intelligent player” who can deliver in crucial moments, especially for the Dutch national team.
Anco added “he showed the Dutch team that he is the man for the big occasion”, highlighting his ability to rise to the challenge. His off-field demeanour has also been praised, with many describing him as “humble”.
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Now for perhaps the standout performer for the Reds this season, Ryan Gravenberch.
Following an underwhelming spell in Munich and a slow start at Liverpool, his technical ability has been on full display, such as his “unbelievable” in the recent Netherlands game against Germany.
This season has seen Gravenberch flourish, with his performances sensational so far under Arne Slot’s management, thriving in a deeper role, and unlocking his full potential.
Anco stated that Ryan “is tall, but his technical ability is amazing” and it is clear that he has the natural ball class to become a key player in Liverpool’s midfield for years to come.
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Whilst it’s still early days for Gravenberch in particular in this adapted role, there can be little doubt that the start to this season has been nothing short of sensational and the sky would appear to be the limit on this current trajectory.
As for Gakpo, on the back of a season that saw the former PSV Eindhoven man shoehorned into a variety of positions it now appears that a left-wing berth is Slot’s favoured use and it’s up to the Dutchman to fight Luis Diaz for a place in the first choice team.
