One of the main concerns for Liverpool so far this season has been the makeup of their midfield under Andoni Iraola.
While the focus is all on Florian Wirtz at this moment in time, what’s going on behind him is another issue for the Spanish boss to work out.
What is evident so far is that the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are not a midfield two that is going to work moving forwards.
That has already seen the 24-year-old Dutchman dropped in recent weeks, starting on the bench against Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town and Bournemouth. He only managed nine minutes against the latter.
Iraola seems to have quickly worked out that Alexis Mac Allister is the safer option for the time being in Liverpool’s midfield.
Netherlands problem
It seems the issue of Gravenberch isn’t isolated just to Liverpool, though.
Dutch icon Ruud Gullit has been watching him play for the Netherlands in this international break.
And he has quickly become convinced that the Liverpool midfielder cannot play alongside Tijjani Reijnders.
“Gravenberch isn’t comfortable, and neither is Reijnders,” he said during an appearance on Rondo. His comments were relayed by Voetbal Primeur.
“It just doesn’t click. In principle, he is the best and he has shown that. But he isn’t playing at the required level. And neither is Reijnders. It looks like they can’t play football together.”
A familiar discussion
Doesn’t that sound like a familiar discussion? Two talented midfielders who are unable to work together and provide a functioning central midfield pairing.
Whether the issue is just Gravenberch, remains to be seen. Perhaps there will be a way for managers like Xavi and Iraola to utilise him in their set ups.
But at this moment in time, it seems both the Liverpool and Netherlands bosses can’t work that out. And now icons like Gullit are openly suggesting that at least one of the two will need to be sacrificed.
