Jamie Carragher has heaped praise on Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, suggesting the Dutchman should be a contender for the PFA Player of the Year award.
The 22-year-old delivered another standout performance as Liverpool cruised past Tottenham with a commanding 4-0 victory at Anfield, securing their spot in the Carabao Cup final.
While stars like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk usually steal the spotlight, Gravenberch has quietly become a vital cog in Arne Slot’s high-flying Liverpool squad, now dreaming of an unprecedented quadruple.
After a tough debut season, the former Ajax and Bayern Munich midfielder has flourished under Slot, excelling in a new role that maximizes his strengths.
Carragher highlighted Gravenberch’s transformation and compared his playing style to that of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.
“They had high hopes for him when he arrived,” Carragher noted before Liverpool’s second-leg clash with Spurs. “At Bayern, he struggled because of their system, and at Liverpool, he initially played a more attacking role. I was unsure how it would work, but now he’s proving his worth.”
Praising Gravenberch’s ability to glide through midfield with his long strides, Carragher added, “He’s been outstanding. He reminds me of Vieira, and I think he should be in the conversation for Player of the Year.”
Meanwhile, rather than dwelling on Liverpool’s latest success, Slot has already shifted focus to the FA Cup. The Reds face Championship side Plymouth this weekend, and the manager emphasized the importance of maintaining their momentum.
“It’s great to reach a final, but my mind is already on Sunday’s game,” Slot admitted. “This club is used to finals, but we work every day to improve, and there are many important matches ahead before we think about Newcastle in the final.”
Liverpool’s dominant display against Spurs left little room for doubt, with goals from Cody Gakpo, Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Van Dijk sealing the win. Injury-ravaged Tottenham struggled to create chances, failing to register a shot on target until the 80th minute.
Slot acknowledged Spurs’ injury woes but credited his team’s relentless pressing for their defensive success. “Tottenham are missing key players, which explains their struggles at the back. But they usually create chances, so for us to restrict them for 80 minutes speaks volumes about our work rate.”
With the Carabao Cup final secured, Liverpool’s attention now turns to their pursuit of more silverware, with Gravenberch emerging as a crucial figure in their ambitious campaign.