Gravenberch credits Slot for 'confidence' boost
Ryan Gravenberch has credited his stellar start to the campaign to new Liverpool manager Arne Slot giving him the confidence that he needed.
Gravenberch has become a first-team regular under Slot, making 19 appearances in all competitions as the Reds sit top of the Premier League and Champions League tables.
Under former boss Jurgen Klopp, the Dutchman was often deployed in several positions, but he has since flourished in the defensive midfield role under Slot.
In the Premier League this term, Gravenberch has won more duels (77) than any of his team-mates, while also making the joint-most interceptions (28 - level with Virgil van Dijk).
Additionally, his 15 tackles made in the top-flight is a total only bettered by Alexis Mac Allister (27) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (28) for Liverpool.
"Now I play a lot of games as a starter, so it’s a little bit different," Gravenberch said. "The coach gave me confidence when I needed it, and I'm happy that I can show myself again. Just the run of games, you really need it to be honest.
"Sometimes it's really hard. For example, if you're on the bench and the next game you play good, the next game you're on the bench, then you come in for 10 minutes, then the 10 minutes are not really going how you want it.
"Then the next game you’re on the bench again, so that’s difficult. So yeah, just the run of games - that gives you the confidence if you’re doing good on the pitch.
"I'm happy that I'm playing. To be on the pitch again for 90 minutes and I can show off myself."
Up next for Liverpool is LaLiga outfit Girona, which finds itself 30th in the 36-team table after winning just one of its five games in their first season in the competition.
The Reds, however, are the only team with a 100 percent record in the Champions League this term, winning all five of their games so far.
Slot’s run is already the longest by a manager from the start of a spell with an English club in the competition (five), but Gravenberch is wary of the threat Michel's side pose.
"Of course, you want to win every game, so for us our aim is to win every group game and then we will see further. If we win every game, that would mean a lot to us," he said.
"They have a good team, they really like to play out from the back, and they have really good players, so we have to be prepared for that," Gravenberch said.
"I think we are, and we have to show tomorrow that we can fight them.
"We know what we ask from each other, all the energy in pressing and in the build-up, deep runs and everything. We want to show that we can work harder than the opponent.
"We are in a good position, but it's still really early, so we have to [approach it] game-by-game, and we will see at the end of the season."
Gravenberch's impressive rise has also seen him compared to former Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos.
Kroos won 22 major honours during his time in the Spanish capital, including five Champions League triumphs, two of which came against Liverpool.
"Yeah! It’s nice to hear that, of course, because Toni Kroos is a legend of the game. He did a lot of good things, so it’s nice to hear," Gravenberch said.
