This man’s outstanding performance in Europe last night will inspire the Reds.
Under the lights of Europe, Liverpool has put on a number of breathtaking performances; against Union Saint-Gilloise, this was not one of them, but Jurgen Klopp’s team nevertheless managed to win for the second time in a row.
The Reds have already won their first two games in the Europa League group stage, and Klopp will be happy with the shutout and dominance for the majority of the game, even though USG had some chances.
James Pearce of The Athletic claimed that “they made hard work of this and rode their luck at times,” but in the end, a significantly altered starting lineup helped the Anfield team get back on track before a key Premier League match against Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.
Against Union Saint-Gilloise, how did Ryan Gravenberch perform?
Although Liverpool didn’t put on the kind of sleek, incisive show of attacking intent and ball-playing fluidity that has been ingrained in the team since Klopp’s management appointment in 2015, he will be satisfied that danger was thwarted and his team is firmly in the group stage driving seat.
It’s said that winning when you’re not playing well is a good omen, but Ryan Gravenberch, a £34 million summer addition for Liverpool, stood out at the match’s centre and scored his first goal for the club before halftime.
The Dutchman, who is 21 years old, scored a goal and added 67 touches, an 80% pass success rate, two critical passes, three shots on goal, and two tackles to his match score of 8.0, according to Sofascore, proving his value as an all-around centre standout.
While this wasn’t the case on Merseyside, the Reds were sloppy in possession against LASK two weeks ago. While improvements were needed, Gravenberch is becoming more comfortable with each game, giving Klopp confidence in his destructive new midfield weapon.
Although Trent Alexander-Arnold’s return to the starting lineup was motivating for the hosts, the former Bayern Munich midfielder’s performance was excellent. The club vice-captain dazzled and reminded the world of his abilities with a dynamic display.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance versus Union Saint-Gilloise was how?
The England international, who missed most of September due to a hamstring injury, was replaced just after the hour mark of last night’s game as he continues to improve his fitness levels. Pearce praised the player for his “excellent” performance and called him a “class act” in addition to hailing him for his “excellent” performance.
Despite being well-known for his inventiveness and lethal attacking tools, the 24-year-old showed signs of his developing maturity and self-discipline with a controlled defensive display.
With an impressive 7.7 match rating, Alexander-Arnold completed 88% of his passes, had 90 touches, and took two shots, one of which was a fierce drive that caused Anthony Moris to fumble and gave Gravenberch the opportunity to score. However, Alexander-Arnold really stood out for his work in the defensive third.
Even though there will be tougher games ahead, it is encouraging to see the £180k per week machine flourish with his skills at the back. He made two interceptions, three tackles, including one as the last man, and most impressively, he won all five of his contested duels on the night.
This first-class phenom will play a significant part as the season progresses and is now poised to star once more down the right channel. Against USG, he provided a preview of things to come.