Owen Hargreaves has mentioned that he totally enjoys watching Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, including that he reminds him of a participant who as soon as proved to be an costly misfit at Manchester United.
The Dutchman arrived from Bayern Munich on switch deadline day and, regardless of getting simply two Premier League begins to date (Transfermarkt), he’s already regarded an amazing addition to Jurgen Klopp’s facet together with his power within the center third and his eye for aim.
Chatting with Premier League Productions (30 October, 2:40pm), the previous England worldwide equated the flexibility and athleticism of the 21-year-old to Paul Pogba, with the caveat that he reckoned the comparability wouldn’t match nicely with Reds supporters.
Hargreaves mentioned of Gravenberch: “He has performed wonderful [in the Europa League] and since he has performed nicely there, then he will get the chance to play within the Premier League.
“He jogs my memory, Liverpool followers gained’t like this, however he’s Pogba-esque. He can do lots of great things. He can play in lots of positions. He has a fantastic dimension. Nice athleticism.
“I feel he’s a kind of gamers you’ll need to specialise able, however to date I really like watching him. I’m amazed he didn’t play extra for Bayern as a result of I feel he’s going to be addition to [Liverpool’s] midfield.”
Hargreaves’ comparability of Gravenberch and Pogba resulting from their physique and their adaptability to a number of midfield roles isn’t wholly unfounded, with each the Liverpool ace and the Frenchman having alternated between the quantity 6, 8 and 10 positions.
Nonetheless, whereas the Reds’ Dutch recruit has totally impressed together with his all-action angle, the previous Man United midfielder was strongly criticised over his utility at Previous Trafford and got here to be thought to be an costly flop following his then-world file £89.3m switch in 2016 (ESPN).
The 30-year-old is a traditional case of somebody who possesses no scarcity of expertise however lacks the ultra-professional mindset which is required of footballers on the highest degree.
Fortunately, all of the proof of Gravenberch at Liverpool so far means that his mentality gained’t be an issue, and his latest performances could even have given Klopp a pleasing choice headache.
Curtis Jones has now served his three-match home suspension, however will he come straight again in for the Dutchman given how spectacular the latter has been? We’re grateful that it isn’t us who’s left to make that call!