'Biggest surprise': Gary Neville can't believe just how good £34m Liverpool player has been this season
11/21/2024 07:30 AM
Liverpool are flying under Arne Slot and could really be set for a special season if they negotiate the festive period unscathed.
The Dutchman has won 15 of his 17 games in charge of the club while also imprinting an exciting brand of football at Anfield.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 1 | LiverpoolLiverpool | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 28 |
| 2 | Man CityManchester City | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 23 |
| 3 | ChelseaChelsea | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 19 |
| 4 | ArsenalArsenal | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 19 |
Liverpool are top of the Premier League and UEFA Champions League standings but have a tricky run of fixtures coming up, starting with a trip to the St. Mary’s Stadium to take on Southampton.
And Gary Neville has singled out one Reds star for special praise ahead of their travels.
Gary Neville in awe of Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch
After Martin Zubimendi rejected a move to Liverpool, Slot refrained from pursuing alternatives, instead opting to use Ryan Gravenberch in that position.
His decision has already paid dividends, with the towering Dutch midfielder making that position his own at Anfield.
Gravenberch has started every Premier League and Champions League game under Slot and has combined his physical and technical ability with incredible effect in the centre of the park.
Speaking about the Liverpool midfielder on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said: “I am going Gravenberch for the biggest surprise for me because of how he's played and the position he has played.”
Michael Owen went one step further as he hailed Gravenberch as the best player in the Premier League this season.
Gravenberch stats for Liverpool this season
The fact that he has played every minute in the league and Europe shows just how highly Slot rates Gravenberch.
| Ryan Gravenberch stats | Apps | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Mins played |
| Premier League | 11 | – | – | 2 | 990′ |
| UEFA Champions League | 4 | – | – | – | 360′ |
He has also become a key player for the Netherlands under Ronald Koeman, who opted to rest him for their recent UEFA Nations League clash against Bosnia.
Gravenberch is finally showing the consistency that was expected of him when he burst onto the scene at Ajax and the £34m transfer fee Liverpool paid to sign him from Bayern Munich is looking like a bargain now.
