NewsRyan Gravenberch on honest feedback, Heitinga influence and 'something special' aim

The Netherlands midfielder extended his run of starting every Premier League fixture for the Reds this term to 30 in Wednesday night’s Merseyside derby success at Anfield.

Used in a deeper-lying central role by head coach Arne Slot since the beginning of 2024-25, Gravenberch has delivered consistently excellent performances to contribute to a quest to clinch the title.

That 1-0 defeat of Everton in midweek consolidated a 12-point advantage for Liverpool at the top of the table with eight matches left to play.

Gravenberch was featured in the matchday programme for the clash with the Blues, discussing his adaptation to a new position, working with Slot and the ambition to achieve before the end of the season.

Read a summary of the chat below…

On the differences between his first and second seasons at Liverpool…

Obviously, last year was a big adjustment for me, transferring clubs and settling in to a new country. It takes time. This season, I’m playing more, I’m feeling more confident and physically I’m in better shape. And, to be honest, I believe that I’ve been taking better care of myself in terms of recovery and diet too.

On his relationship with Slot…

I get on really well with him. I value his clarity and directness. He’s very clear in what he wants from us players and I like that in a coach. I know where I stand and he knows what to expect from me. Plus, I love his style of play, building from the back – that’s how I was brought up.

On other influences on him within the coaching staff and squad…

Definitely John Heitinga. He was my U19s coach at Ajax, so we go way back. We’ve analysed my game together, which has helped me improve. And of course, Virgil [van Dijk] and Cody [Gakpo], the other Dutch lads, are really important too. We spend a lot of time together and let’s say they’re not afraid to provide honest feedback if I need to do better!

On his adaptation to a deeper midfield position…

It’s really only happened this season. The manager saw potential in me as a number six and I think it’s been going pretty well so far. It required adjusting my game, especially defensively, but I’m quite happy with my development so far. Of course, there’s always room for improvement, for example I need to get better at anticipating play, being proactive instead of reactive. Sometimes I find myself waiting to see where the ball lands, but if I could anticipate better I’d beat my opponent to it. That’s definitely something I’m working on.

On Liverpool’s performance level this season…

I think we’ve just got a really strong team in which everyone knows what they’re supposed to do. We’ve got a good mix of older, more experienced guys and also younger players who are really hungry to play. We’re all working towards the same goal. We’re definitely on the right path, but we’re not there yet. We’re determined to do something special this year.