Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes Ryan Gravenberch is in the form of his life but there is still plenty of room for improvement for the Netherlands midfielder.

The midfielder became the youngest player (23 years and 127 days) to score and assist in a Premier League Merseyside derby, which extended their 100 per cent record to five matches.

Last season’s Premier League young player of the year was coming off arguably his best game for the club in Wednesday’s Champions League victory over Atletico Madrid, and since his conversion to a number six by Arne Slot when the head coach arrived last season his fellow Dutchman has become integral to their success.

Only a year ago Liverpool had done a deal for Real Sociedad’s Martín Zubimendi to fill the role only for the player to back out at the 11th hour, eventually joining Arsenal this summer.

Slot turned to a youngster, who under predecessor Jurgen Klopp had made just 21 starts – nine of which were in cup competitions – in his maiden campaign, and has never looked back.

It makes the £34million they paid Bayern Munich for the former Ajax academy graduate look like a bargain.

“Not just this season, he’s been playing like that from the moment last season started. He’s unbelievable. He’s very important to the way we play,” said Van Dijk.

“You see the amount of times I try to look for him. It benefits him, me and the team. He’s in incredible shape. He’s in the form of his life. He has to keep going. He’s still young.

“The expectation level will always be right up there and that’s what he has to try to reach every three or four days. It’s a nice challenge.

“During his first season here he hardly played either. Listen, it’s a mix of everything: getting confidence, progressing and improving as a player, playing games at the highest level and knowing your role in the team.

“I’m very pleased for him because he puts in a lot of hard work to do what he is doing.”

Gravenberch’s ability to defend and attack has stood out particularly this season.

His goal against Everton was his second in five matches, half the number he got in his first season and two more than he managed in the whole of the title-winning campaign.

It has added an extra dimension to Liverpool’s play as teams can no longer assume he will just hold the centre and allow his more creative team-mates to play.

His 10th-minute goal was perfectly executed, allowing Mohamed Salah’s looping pass to drop before hooking it over goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

The pass he played for £69million summer signing Hugo Ekitike to score his fourth goal in seven matches was perfectly weighted and showed how he is not just a midfield destroyer.

But, following a familiar pattern, Liverpool could not extend their two-goal advantage or even look comfortable holding it and Idrissa Gueye’s 58th-minute strike made for a tense finale.

“I don’t think you can expect any easy games in the Premier League,” added Van Dijk.

“It’s about getting over the line. Of course you want to win comfortably but that’s not always easy. Sometimes you have to fight and that’s what we did in the second half.”

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland is Barcelona‘s ideal replacement for Robert Lewandowski, while Crystal Palace center back Marc Guéhi is set to snub Liverpool and now has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid next summer. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men’s grades | Women’s grades

TOP STORIES

– Chelsea’s Maresca on Sterling, Disasi: My dad’s life harder
– Barcelona’s salary cap drops by €112m, dwarfed by Real Madrid
– Sources: Messi, Inter Miami near multi-year extension

TRENDING RUMORS

– Barcelona have identified Manchester City striker Erling Haaland as their dream replacement for 37-year-old Robert Lewandowski, says Football Insider. Haaland, 25, has scored 130 goals in 151 games since arriving from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and he signed a new nine-and-a-half-year contract January. City aren’t looking to let the Norway international leave, and it would take an offer of £150 million to start talks, which Barcelona would need to raise by letting other players go.

– Crystal Palace center back Marc Guéhi has now told his advisors that his heart is set on a move to Real Madrid, after his deadline day move to Liverpool fell through, says by The Mirror. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté already looks set to leave as a free agent in the summer, with Los Blancos one of the clubs interested in the France international, but they could also land Guehi for nothing. Elsewhere, Marca reports that Bayern Munich center back Dayot Upamecano has offered himself to Real Madrid as a free agent with his contract also expiring in the summer.

– Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford hopes to make a permanent transfer to Barcelona, but the club may struggle to make it happen due to LaLiga’s wage cap. The Rashford, 27, is on loan at the club and has impressed so far this season, but The Daily Mail reports that Barca can’t afford to keep him long term due to his salary.

– Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes is the latest name being considered by AC Milan as they look into possible replacements for Mike Maignan in the summer, as reported by Calciomercato. Cagliari‘s Elia Caprile and Parma‘s Zion Suzuki are also among the candidates and will be closely monitored throughout the season. Even so, the Rossoneri haven’t given up on keeping Maignan past his contract’s expiration in 2026, despite renewal negotiations having stalled for several months.

EXPERT TAKE

play

Has Vinícius Júnior been affected by no longer being Madrid’s star player?

Steve Nicol and Alex Kirkland discuss Vinícius Júnior’s recent performances for Real Madrid.

OTHER RUMORS

– Manchester United want to sign Real Madrid’s Federico Valverde, and are ready to offer a deal of cash plus 20-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. (Defensa Central)

– Chelsea, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all interested in Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who could be available for €80m. (CaughtOffside)

– Atletico Madrid aren’t giving up hope of signing Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson in January, having also looked at the 31-year-old in the summer transfer window. (Football Insider)

– Gabriel Jesus is seriously considering leaving Arsenal amid interest from West Ham United, Everton and Flamengo. (Football Transfers)

– West Ham United, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are all monitoring AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek‘s situation. (Ekrem Konur)

– Brendan Rodgers could be the pivotal factor in convincing Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling to join Celtic. (Football Insider)

– Roma, Juventus and Stade Rennais are among those who have looked at Atalanta right back Marco Palestra, who is currently on loan at Cagliari. (Corriere dello Sport)

– AC Milan are following Udinese center backs Thomas Kristensen and Oumar Solet, with the latter’s transfer costing double of his teammate at around €30m. (Calciomercato)