How Bayern Munich feel about Ryan Gravenberch transfer as Liverpool midfielder flourishes
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Ryan Gravenberch earned the moniker of Liverpool's Merseyside derby day hero as he assisted Hugo Ekitike after scoring himself against Everton at Anfield.
The Reds prevailed 2-1, and the love-in for the Dutchman reached new heights.
The midfielder opened Liverpool's scoring on 10 minutes with a well-placed volley on the end of a Mohamed Salah cross.
Later he played a controlled pass into Ekitike, who took it in stride and found the space to slot beyond Everton's Jordan Pickford.
Gravenberch proceeded to play the entirety of the derby, making more tackles than any other Reds player to demonstrate just how complete an individual performance it was.
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The country's national media were left to rave about what they saw from the 23-year-old, who is continuing to play a key part in Arne Slot's team having started his prominent midfield role at the beginning of the 2024/25 Premier League title-winning campaign.
It marks a major rise from the player who arrived from Bayern Munich, where he had been used sparingly, on transfer deadline day in summer 2023.
And as far as reports have suggested, Gravenberch has forced a wave of 'regret' to wash over his former club for their decision to sell him.
"Of course, there is internal regret over Ryan Gravenberch’s exit from FC Bayern.
But this season has proven that the Dutchman is more than capable of playing a more defensively-minded midfield role.
"If Tuchel had seen this, Bayern wouldn’t have spent €51m [£43.2m] on João Palhina.
It benefits him, me and the team," Virgil van Dijk said of his fellow Dutchman after the derby.
"He's in incredible shape.
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