Jurgen Klopp reveals midfield role he wants Ryan Gravenberch to play at Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp has hinted that Ryan Gravenberch will primarily be deployed as a No 8 for Liverpool this season after he completed a £34m move to the club on deadline day. 

The Dutchman became Liverpool's fourth summer signing after Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo and is expected to be at Anfield for the Reds' Premier League clash against Aston Villa. Gravenberch, however, will have to wait a bit longer for his debut as he wasn't registered on time to be part of the matchday squad on Sunday.

Klopp expressed his delight at Liverpool's latest addition, describing the Dutchman as a 'super talented' player. Speaking to Liverpool's official website after Gravenberch's transfer was confirmed, the Reds boss lavished praise on the 21-year-old's eye for a pass and box-to-box ability.

He said: "Ryan knows he has to improve things but that’s with 21, it would be crazy if not. But he is super-talented, he can drive the ball, he can be really a box-to-box threat, he is going there. He has a good eye for a pass and a good pass. Really excited. It fits into our squad. I said before, we have a big challenge to reinvent pretty much one of the most successful midfields this club ever had, and I really like it.

"When I look now at the team, it’s a good football team, honestly. You can buy experienced players, but experience you have to make together as a team and we will do that. Everything is good. We signed a really good player and now let’s help him to get the best out of him."

Ahead of Gravenberch's transfer, Thomas Tuchel said at a press conference that the 21-year-old was leaving Bayern Munich only because they don't play with a No 8 in their 4-2-3-1 formation. Klopp echoed his compatriot's claims, seemingly confirming that he sees Gravenberch as a box-to-box midfielder for Liverpool.

He said: "He had a, I wouldn’t even say difficult season at Bayern because, in that age group, it’s completely normal; you go into a world-class team and he had his minutes and stuff like this. But as Thomas Tuchel said today in the press conference in Munich I think, the position he is best at, they don’t really have in their system. We have that – that’s good."

Gravenberch has signed a five-year deal with Liverpool and is expected to make his debut when the Reds travel to Molineux to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers on the 16th of September.