Owen Hargreaves has praised Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch for seizing his opportunity under Arne Slot, but emphasized that the Reds may struggle to secure the Premier League or Champions League titles without a specialized defensive midfielder.
Liverpool has had an impressive start to the season, currently topping the Premier League with 15 points from their first six games, one point ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal in second and third place, respectively.
While there was a lot of talk about Liverpool’s lack of outfield signings during the summer, their performance at the start of the season suggests it may not be a concern.
Hargreaves praises Gravenberch
Among Liverpool’s standout players this season is Gravenberch, who has excelled in midfield for the Reds.
Slot’s team had been in the market for a defensive midfielder in the summer but missed out on Martin Zubimendi, who chose to remain at Real Sociedad.
This season, Gravenberch has been operating as the deepest midfielder for Liverpool. While he has performed well in that role, Hargreaves believes that Liverpool will struggle to compete for major trophies without signing a specialist defensive midfielder.
“He is 190cm, he is 22 years old, he has got everything, but he is not a specialist defensive midfield player, there is a difference,” he told Premier League Productions as quoted by The Daily Mail.
“I think he is a brilliant midfield player, he is a box-to-box [player], depending on who you play. But I think in a big game, in a one-off game, to go and win the Premier League or the Champions League, I think you need a specialist. Liverpool showed that with Fabinho or Manchester City showed that with Rodri.
“I still think they will address this position. But credit Gravenberch, he has grabbed his chance and that’s all you need.
“That’s what you need as a player, you need someone to trust you and he has proven it. I still think tougher tests will come. I love what he is doing, but I still think they will go and get somebody.”
The position currently belongs to Gravenberch, and if he continues to perform at this level, it may sway Liverpool’s decision on entering the transfer market. However, their interest in Zubimendi signals that they recognize the need for reinforcement in that area, which may be addressed in the upcoming January transfer window or next summer.
