Ryan Gravenberch at a Crossroads: Liverpool Starting to Lose Patience
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- Ryan Gravenberch hanya menjadi starter di separuh laga Liga Inggris musim ini dan performanya terus menurun.
- Kesalahan beruntun, termasuk kartu merah melawan Manchester City dan penalti gagal kontra Chelsea, membuat posisinya terancam.
- Manajemen Liverpool disebut siap melepas gelandang asal Belanda itu pada bursa transfer musim dingin jika tren negatif berlanjut.
Ryan Gravenberch is facing the toughest period of his career at Liverpool. The 24-year-old midfielder has been trusted to start in only half of the club's Premier League matches this season, and even when given the chance, his performances are far from the standard that prompted The Reds to pay £34 million to Bayern Munich for him in 2023.
Gravenberch's dip in form hit rock bottom in the 0-3 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield earlier this month. He was sent off after receiving two yellow cards, a reflection of the poor decisions that have begun to appear frequently. A chance to prove himself came when Liverpool faced Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in midweek, but the result only made matters worse. Gravenberch was judged to have fouled Moises Caicedo in the penalty area, giving Chelsea the lead, and his penalty in the shootout was saved by goalkeeper Mike Penders.
Manager Andoni Iraola's trust appears to be wavering. The Spanish coach has given minutes to young midfielder Trey Nyoni, who in recent weeks is seen to have overtaken Gravenberch in the squad hierarchy. If this trend continues until the winter transfer window, it is not impossible that Liverpool will open the exit door for the former Ajax player.
On the other hand, Florian Wirtz has had a different fate. The expensive £116 million signing from Bayer Leverkusen was once a target for supporters after a disappointing debut season—scoring only 15 goals and assists in 49 appearances. However, under Iraola, Wirtz is beginning to show signs of a revival with three goal contributions in the last five matches, including a goal against Villarreal in the Champions League. Although still far from satisfactory, the German attacking midfielder at least offers new hope for Liverpool's front line.
The contrast between Wirtz and Gravenberch is a major talking point at Anfield. Liverpool's heavy investment—more than £600 million since the summer of 2024—has not fully paid off. The club finished only fifth in the Premier League last season, which led to the dismissal of Arne Slot. Now, Iraola is tasked with molding that expensive squad into a competitive team, and the decision on Gravenberch's future will be one of his first tests.
"Gravenberch's performance against Chelsea is proof that his confidence is at its lowest point. There are no signs of improvement in the near future," read the analysis by Football FanCast.
For Liverpool fans in Indonesia, this dynamic is certainly compelling viewing. The Premier League is not a domestic league, but big clubs like Liverpool have a large supporter base in the country. Iraola's decisions in handling star players—especially those not in their best form—will reflect how modern management deals with the pressure of high expectations. Meanwhile, for Gravenberch himself, the rest of this season is a chance to prove whether he still deserves to wear the red shirt or should instead seek a new harbor.
With the winter transfer window drawing closer, will Liverpool give Gravenberch one last chance, or will they take decisive action to cut their losses? The answer will soon become clear in the coming weeks.
