Ryan Gravenberch given perfect nickname that sums up his Liverpool heroics

Ryan Gravenberch has been simply sensational for Liverpool this term, truly a cut above, which is apt considering the moniker he's earned while on international duty.

'Gravie' has only bolstered his serial winner reputation in Holland during his two years at Anfield, establishing himself as Arne Slot's midfield linchpin and helping the Reds secure the Premier League title following an inaugural campaign that saw him bag a Carabao Cup medal under Jurgen Klopp.

At only 23, he nabbed three Eredivisie titles with Ajax, coupled with two Dutch Cups, a Bundesliga title, and a German Super Cup during his spell at Bayern Munich, and was integral to the Holland Under-17 squad that clinched the European championship in 2018.

Gravenberch told The Mirror : "The realisation about how much I have won so far isn't quite there yet. Maybe it will come later. It all goes so fast. Of course, I know that winning the Premier League is one of the biggest prizes you can win.

"For the past four weeks, it has just been a big celebration. The celebrations and the bus ride were wonderful to experience. It has been a super great season and that makes me proud. The Premier League is the strongest league in the world. I showed myself to the world again and achieved my goals."

Gravenberch's transition into life at Liverpool wasn't immediate after his £33.7 million ($43M) transfer from Bayern. His sole season in the Bundesliga also proved challenging following his departure from Ajax, where he emerged under the tutelage of Erik ten Hag.

The Dutch midfielder was a solid choice for Klopp, making 21 Premier League starts. However, it was Slot's shrewd manoeuvre to slot him into a defensive midfield role that truly paid off, with Gravenberch shining in 37 matches as the Reds clinched the league title.

(Image: Getty Images)

Gravenberch shared his enthusiasm about the position shift, stating: "When the coach told me about where he wanted me to play, I just thought, 'When can I start?' I knew I could do it, even though defensively I sometimes had my doubts. I do think I took a big step forward because it actually went naturally."

"From the first training session it went pretty well. As the season went on, opponents started to put a different pressure on us and closed us down through the middle. But that created space somewhere else. It was up to us to find the free players.

"How did I do that physically? Good question. It's a matter of recovering well, where the people at Liverpool also deserve a big compliment. Football has become a running sport - running, running, running.

"The intensity is of course higher than before, especially in the Premier League. I have that by nature. I can run. But at Ajax, the emphasis in training was more on technique and positional play. In England, you have to run a lot more."

Gravenberch hopes that his pivotal performances for Liverpool will further spur on his international prospects. Despite not playing for the Netherlands in last summer's Euros, where they were semi-finalists before facing defeat to England, he is optimistic about the future.

Gravenberch added: "That's how it goes in football. What happened at the European Championships can happen - and then you have to move on. At Liverpool I was given the chance to become a base player and to show myself.

"That was my goal and I succeeded. But I still have no idea yet what my role will be exactly for the national team because the coach can go in different directions with me.

"I can play in all positions in midfield, but especially at 'six' and 'eight'. I am curious to see what he chooses. Before at Ajax, I really wanted to play left-half, but now I don't care anymore."

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