What Ryan Gravenberch did after helping Liverpool goal reveals the reality behind the transfer decision.

Ryan Gravenberch makes an impression in his first start for Liverpool, according to Theo Squires after the team’s away Europa League match against LASK.

Throughout the course of what would turn out to be his only season in Germany, Ryan Gravenberch frequently expressed his displeasure with Bayern Munich.

The Netherlands international, who was signed from Ajax last summer, may have won the Bundesliga in Bavaria, but the ambitious 21-year-old felt that five Bundesliga starts and one Champions League match was not enough after making 33 appearances in all competitions the previous season.

Long-time Liverpool target, Bayern insisted otherwise when the two teams squared off in preseason, but an exit in the summer still seemed likely.

The writing was on the wall when he played just nine minutes in the first three games for the German giants.

In only two games, Jurgen Klopp would give the Dutchman what he had been routinely denied in Germany.

After spending a season on the periphery in Bavaria, Gravenberch could have been excused for being a little rusty and needing some time to adjust to life in Klopp’s squad.

It was equally understandable why he blew hot and cold in the first half of his full Reds debut after getting kicked black and blue by LASK defenders.

He linked up well with his new teammates in the final third, showing off an exquisite touch and always posing a threat when charging forward with the ball.

When space opened up on the box, he played a clever one-two with Harvey Elliott, with whom he seems to have connected right away, but was stopped in his tracks by a last-ditch tackle.

But more than once, as he became agitated for various reasons, he lost control to the hosts.
He slammed the ground in annoyance after one lost ball that was no longer in play, but Elliott quickly intervened to encourage his new teammate to brush it off.

He did precisely that following the break as the Dutchman’s moment of magic gave Liverpool the victory.

When Nunez successfully held the ball up on the halfway line and passed it to Elliott, Gravenberch sprinted down the right flank after catching a through ball and whipped a lethal low cross for Luis Diaz to score.

It was obvious to all to see how happy Gravenberch was as he danced and jumped around with the Colombian.
He has a new home now that he hasn’t enjoyed football for a year.

Just two minutes prior to the goal, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister were added, allowing Klopp to fully utilize his new midfield trio, which cost £130 million. However, just 13 minutes later Gravenberch’s injury forced him off the field, ending their time on the field together.

The notion is that as the Dutch international’s time with the Reds progresses, he will change and become a deeper midfielder. But in a box midfield setting, he was free to play to his strengths here.

Along with Elliott, the duo demonstrated just how well the setup can accommodate such adaptable, attacking players.

One can only hope that Gravenberch’s departure was merely preventative.
Since Klopp has been eager to work with the Dutchman, he will be licking his lips after this encouraging debut that may have given Bayern a glimpse of what they might have been.

Liverpool’s revamped midfield is finished following the summer’s work.
However, this 3-1 victory in Linz is just the beginning after just 13 minutes of combined play.