Michael Owen says standout Liverpool star 'got lucky' before impressive Reds season
Liverpool missed out on signing Martin Zubimendi in the summer but that has allowed Ryan Gravenberch to become a regular with term with the Dutchman among the team's top performers
Michael Owen admits Ryan Gravenberch "got lucky" that Liverpool missed out on Martin Zubimendi - with the Dutch midfielder able to make the midfield slot his own. He has been among the most improved performers as the Reds have charged towards the Premier League title.
Gravenberch was signed in Jurgen Klopp's final summer, joining from Bayern Munich, but the Dutchman was unable to become a regular during his debut season. This year though, under Arne Slot, the 22-year-old has been a huge hit alongside the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones.
Liverpool made no major signings in the summer but their pursuit of Zubimendi was well documented. The midfielder had just starred for Spain during their Euro 2024 success and was also a standout performer with Real Sociedad.
The La Liga outfit were ultimately able to retain their player despite interest from Liverpool and Arsenal. It meant that Gravenberch remained a regular with Zubimendi's potential arrival likely limiting his game time - but he's more than taken his chance.
Owen said: “From Gravenberch's point of view, you could say he's got lucky but he's also grasped his chance. If Zubimendi signed, you have got no doubts they still would have won the league and it would have been a great signing, I guess. I do think when you get a group, a collective of good characters and players, the ones who necessarily all get swept along.
READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold accused of costing Liverpool £80m payday - 'An insult'READ MORE: Liverpool fans told Reds will sign 'world-class' £160m duo this summer - 'Two certs'“It shows all the time at every club, if you've got a bad team, a bad set of characters or a bad group, I don't care who you sign. They will turn average as well if the crux of the squad is not a good one. I believe whoever you bring to Liverpool, they'll fall into line. If you go back to when Jurgen Klopp first joined, there were so many average players but there was a group of them that led the way. People like James Milner and Jordan Henderson were never world class.
"There were so many players who you'd say they are never going to reach these heights but when you get that good group and leadership then it sweeps the whole lot. Liverpool have got that. Everyone says what's wrong with Manchester United, that's the opposite. There are a lot of good players there but they can't do it.”
Gary Neville is among those to praise the way in which Slot has got the most out of the players he inherited. Gravenberch wasn't tipped to make such an impact but his potential, which was evident in his Ajax days, has been unlocked by the Reds boss.
He confessed that Zubimendi was on their radar but claimed Gravenberch had all the same qualities. Slot said: “The player we wanted to bring in (Zubimendi) – I think that’s pretty much out in the open now – he was also a player who was really comfortable. He’s still a player who could bring the ball from the last line to our forwards. This is a special quality Ryan has. The ability to turn away from his man."
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