Gravenberch form key to Liverpool's balance

Over the last couple of seasons Ryan Gravenberch has been Liverpool's bellwether player. When the Dutchman is on form, Liverpool play at a title-winning level. When he looks tired, the side struggles.

Last season, as Arne Slot integrated more forward-thinking players such as Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, Liverpool lacked balance and Gravenberch's naturally attack-minded instincts often felt misplaced. One of Andoni Iraola's main tasks is to restore that balance and usher Gravenberch back to his best.

Gravenberch's trademark is receiving the ball with his body opened up, taking a small touch to shift past an opponent and stride into attack. Feeding him was the problem last season.

In their worst league result of the campaign, a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the opposition blocked forward passes into Gravenberch. In Iraola's opening game, Newcastle were less disciplined, yet Liverpool still conceded twice.

Build-up leaves gaps between lines

Newcastle's opener, scored by Anthony Elanga, came after a sequence that highlighted Liverpool's structural issues. With debutant Jeremy Jacquet in possession, Dominik Szoboszlai gestured for the ball to be brought forward to attract pressure and keep the side compact.

A few seconds later, Frimpong was in possession at right-back. Szoboszlai faked a run into the channel while Gravenberch suddenly moved between the lines, leaving Liverpool's two deep midfielders in a position between the lines. The ball went back to Jacquet and Liverpool's three midfielders — Gravenberch, Wirtz and Szoboszlai — ended up in a vertical line.

Gravenberch then executed his trademark move, going past Lewis Miley with ease, but his final pass went astray. A slide clearance from Newcastle right-back Amar Dedic became a perfect forward pass to William Osula, who released Elanga for the opener.

Iraola was seen gesturing at the centre-backs, probably Virgil van Dijk in particular, to push up and keep the side compact. They eventually took up a position midway inside the opposition half.

The second concession came in similar circumstances. Gravenberch was tempted forward to shoot, his effort bounced off two opponents and fell for him again, and a backheel for Isak struck a defender and fell to Yoane Wissa. Szoboszlai was in a position to cover Wissa and briefly held him up, with Wirtz also confronting him, but Wissa got past both and the move ended with substitute Joe Willock curling home from the edge of the box.

Iraola subsequently introduced Alexis Mac Allister in the deep role, pushing Gravenberch higher to his old No 8 position. It is the opposite of a move Slot often made last season, when he sometimes withdrew a centre-back and put Gravenberch into defence to get him on the ball more.

Liverpool's next game is at home against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the side that beat them 3-0 at Anfield last season. Forest have changed managers twice since then, but Liverpool are likely to face familiar issues, and Iraola must ensure his side are less vulnerable to counter-attacks through midfield.