View: 100% Gravenberch validates Liverpool decision, he ‘outpointed’ Bellingham
Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has validated the club’s decision not to sign Jude Bellingham in the summer of 2023.
The Reds were rumoured to be all-in on Bellingham as Jurgen Klopp looked to rebuild his midfield after the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia.
However, they decided that he was too expensive and signed Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Gravenberch instead.
The Reds currently sit top of both the Premier League and the Champions League league phase and the Daily Mail’s Dominic King believes that the decision was a masterstroke, telling talkSPORT after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Real Madrid [7:10, 28 November] that: “You didn’t notice Gravenberch last night and that is the biggest compliment you can pay him. He is playing that well what you are watching him do is not even coming as a surprise now, he has come from nowhere.
“It was very interesting last night, you had Gravenberch who they bought for £20 something million and Alexis Mac Allister for £35 [million] and they arrived in a summer when many Liverpool fans wanted Jude Bellingham to arrive and the two of them comfortably outpointed him.
“There are times when you think fortune worked out better for Liverpool, it would have been an enormous investment in Bellingham and how they actually did it that summer, the three players with Szoboszlai as well, might have been the right deal for them to do.”
Gravenberch going from strength to strength for Liverpool
The Dutch midfielder has been a revelation since Arne Slot took over as Reds head coach, transforming his reputation from flop to one of the best midfielders in the world.
The 22-year-old enjoyed another stellar performance against Madrid in the 2-0 victory despite picking up a yellow card just 17 minutes into the contest.
While Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones take the plaudits for their performances against Madrid, the Dutchman’s display has gone under the radar.
The Dutchman had a 92 per cent passing accuracy completing 60 of his 65 passes, seven passes into the final third and was not disposed once against the 15-time champions of Europe. [Fotmob]
Defensively, he won 100 per cent of his two tackles attempted, made two interceptions and three ball recoveries.
One aspect of the contest where he underwhelmed was his duels, he won just two of his four ground duels and one of four aerial battles, for success rates of 50 per cent and 25 per cent respectively, compared to an average of 65.1 per cent ground duel success rate and 84.6 per cent aerial duel success rate in the Premier League so far this season.
If he maintains the form he has been in so far this campaign, it is highly likely that Slot’s side will be successful in their pursuit of domestic and continental glory.
In other Liverpool news, Conor Bradley proved Arne Slot right in the victory against Madrid.
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