Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch expressed being flattered by the comparisons being made in England with Toni Kroos, admitting in a pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League game against Girona that he sees them as "a great compliment" since Kroos is "a football legend."

Gravenberch, a key player in the team currently leading both the Champions League and Premier League, shared his satisfaction with the recent victories over Bayer Leverkusen (4-0) and Real Madrid (2-0), labeling them as "excellent rivals." He also emphasized that Liverpool aims to "win every game" in the group stage, as finishing top would mean "a lot" for the team.

Gravenberch Happy with His Role at Liverpool

The midfielder also expressed joy at reconnecting with his fellow Dutchmen Donny van de Beek and Daley Blind, former teammates at Ajax and now playing for Girona. Gravenberch left Ajax in 2022 to join Bayern Munich, and a year ago, he moved to Liverpool, where he had an adaptation process in his first season under Jürgen Klopp. This campaign, he has become an indispensable player.

Regarding his role in the team, Gravenberch has played 1,687 out of a possible 1,710 minutes in both the Premier League and Champions League, and he stated that he feels "good" both physically and mentally. "When you play so many minutes, you get fitter," said the midfielder, acknowledging that his first season as a red wasn’t "that joyful" because he didn’t play as much as he wanted. However, in this season, he feels he could "help more defensively."

Mac Allister's Absence and Liverpool's Expectations

On another note, Gravenberch lamented the absence of Alexis Mac Allister, who is suspended for accumulation of yellow cards. Despite the Argentine midfielder's absence, Gravenberch expressed confidence that Liverpool has capable players to fill his spot. "He’s an excellent player with huge quality," he said about Mac Allister, stressing his belief in the squad’s ability to handle this challenge.