News'Ryan has been almost flawless this season - I'm proud of him'
Virgil van Dijk has hailed the progress of teammate and compatriot Ryan Gravenberch, describing the midfielder’s season so far as ‘almost flawless’.
Now in his second campaign with Liverpool, Gravenberch has started all 29 of the team’s Premier League and Champions League fixtures this term.
Thriving in a deeper-lying position in the centre under head coach Arne Slot, the No.38 has been consistently excellent to help the Reds lead the league by six points and secure a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with a match to spare.
Asked about Gravenberch following Saturday’s 4-1 defeat of Ipswich Town at Anfield, captain Van Dijk said: “Last year he didn’t play as much but we all saw his quality and it was key to keep his head down and work his socks off.
“This year he has got the trust and the confidence. He can show his quality week in, week out and every few days. I am very impressed with him. Not only on the pitch but outside the pitch as well.
“He is still a young boy but he is growing into a man. The way you approach the game on and off the pitch is very key to be a world-class player.
“The consistency he is showing, he is a world-class player and he can only get better as well. He learns from difficult moments in games. He has been almost flawless this season. I am proud of him. He is vital for us.”
The pair’s fellow Netherlands international and Liverpool teammate Cody Gakpo was the Carlsberg Player of the Match against Ipswich.
After Dominik Szoboszlai had supplied a fine opening goal, Gakpo’s cross created the second of the afternoon for Mohamed Salah and he then netted either side of the interval himself.
“He is a very important player, having him and Lucho [Luis Diaz] is very good,” said Van Dijk of Gakpo. “They push each other.
“Cody is an outstanding professional with exceptional qualities and he is showing it on a consistent basis. That’s the most difficult part of football, doing it every couple of days. Cody is definitely doing that.”
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