Liverpool may be eight points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but all is not rosy at Anfield.

The Reds have given themselves some breathing room during this year’s title race having made a blistering start to the season.

But after yet another Premier League draw – this time away at Aston Villa – Liverpool fans are starting to look nervously over their shoulders.

Arsenal now have a game in hand on the Reds, and the gap could realistically be five points by the time Liverpool kick off against Manchester City on Sunday.

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With another big away day just around the corner, Arne Slot is going to have to ask many of the Liverpool squad’s key players to go again at the Eithad.

One player who that certainly applies to is Ryan Gravenberch.

But after a stellar season Gravenberch is visibly tiring, and with so many big games still to contend with, it is now clear that Liverpool have badly misjudged the Dutchman’s situation.



Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images

The story of Slot and Richard Hughes‘ first summer in charge of Liverpool’s transfer business was one of missing out on top targets.

Slot identified Martin Zubimendi as his number one choice to bolster the midfield and with a £51m release clause in the Spaniard’s Real Sociedad contract, a deal should really have been done.

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That it wasn’t had started to look like a blessing in disguise, however, with Gravenberch excelling in a new role and marking himself out as one of the Premier League’s outstanding performers.

However, Liverpool’s failure to sign Zubimendi – or a viable alternative – has left Gravenberch playing far too much football.

The 22-year-old has started every one of the Reds 26 league matches, completing 19 of them.

Altogether, Gravenberch has played 2,229 minutes.

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For a player who featured for just 1,121 minutes in the whole of last season’s Premier League season, it was always going to be a risk leaning on him quite so much.

And after leggy displays against both Wolves and Aston Villa in recent days, the inevitable looks like it’s starting to happen.

With no one to effectively replace the Dutchman, Liverpool are looking in danger.

There is of course a chance that Gravenberch can kick on again and drag Liverpool over the line in the Premier League.

But with Champions League football to return over the next couple of weeks as well, it seems too much to ask of the former Ajax youngster.

Premier LeagueChampions/Europa LeagueDomestic CupsTotal2023/241,1215853682,0742024/252,2293501802,759Ryan Gravenberch minutes played 23/24 vs 24/25

Wataru Endo has done a great job coming on as a late substitute in defensive midfield and arguably deserves a bigger role than he currently has.

But Slot does not seem to trust Endo fully and after playing so little this season, the Japan international may not be ready to play a bigger part now anyway.

As a result, Liverpool have no choice but to persevere with Gravenberch for as long as they possibly can.
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