Pundit provides strong Ryan Gravenberch warning to Liverpool

Ryan Gravenberch has once again been the talk of Merseyside after another sublime performance against Wolves on Saturday.

The Dutchman was given the Sky Sports Man of the Match for his display at the Molineux.

The 22-year-old was the bright spark in a relatively dim Liverpool performance despite the Reds climbing to the summit of the Premier League.

READ MORE: Andy Robertson takes a dig at MOTM Ryan Gravenberch

Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves is the latest pundit to applaud the midfielder.

Speaking on Premier League Productions the former England international heaped praise on Gravenberch but outlined that it is still a position he believes Liverpool need to strengthen with the Dutchman not being a natural number six.

"He has done brilliantly well, but he is not a defensive midfield player, which is fine because when you are playing teams like this. He’s 190cm, he’s 22 years old. He’s got everything. But he is not a specialist defensive midfield player," he said.

Hargreaves went on to add that Liverpool still need a Fabinho-type of player in order to win the Premier League or the Champions League.

"There is a difference. I think he is a brilliant midfield player, box to box depending on who you play, but I think in a big game, in a one-off game to go and win the Premier League or the Champions League, I think you need a specialist.

"Liverpool showed that with Fabinho and City showed that with Rodri," Hargreaves added.

Despite Liverpool's relatively easy schedule thus far, with only one clash against a team that placed in the top half of last season, Gravenberch has up to this moment done everything that has been demanded of him and more.

Liverpool have failed to replace Fabinho

Ever since Fabinho left Liverpool for Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad in 2023, the Reds' pursuit in replacing the Brazilian has been far from successful.

In Jurgen Klopp's final summer window as Liverpool boss, the Anfield side saw both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia reject moves in favour of signing for Chelsea.

Fast forward a year, Arne Slot's primary target for this summer was Martin Zubimendi. The Reds looked likely to strike a deal for that midfielder before the Spaniard opted to stay put at boyhood club Real Sociedad.

A true test of Gravenberch's suitability to be Fabinho's long-term replacement will be in the next two months as Liverpool prepare for clashes against the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid.