Ryan Gravenberch

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

Sitting 4th in the Premier League with form reading WWLWL, Liverpool are navigating a transitional season—and Ryan Gravenberch has emerged as their most reliable compass. The 23-year-old Dutch defensive midfielder has accumulated a remarkable 3,409 minutes across 40 appearances this campaign, demonstrating both durability and indispensability to the Reds' cause. What's most striking is Gravenberch's attacking output from deep: 5 goals and 6 assists represent exceptional productivity for a player primarily tasked with shielding the backline. Standing 6'3" with elegant technique and an 83 overall rating, he operates as a deep-lying playmaker who breaks opposition lines with 78-rated passing precision. His €90 million market value reflects his evolution into one of Europe's most complete midfield anchors. While five yellow cards suggest he's still calibrating his aggression to English football's relentless tempo, Gravenberch's ball retention intelligence allows Liverpool to control matches through their number 38. Linking defense to the attacking talents of Isak and Ekitiké, he's not merely surviving this rebuild—at 23, he's the architectural foundation upon which Liverpool's next era is being constructed.