Opinion: Arne Slot’s Unexpected Decision Against Man United Indicates “Unbelievable” Liverpool Player is Set for a Major Role
Liverpool are returning to England after securing three victories out of three during their tour of the United States.
The team has had a strong start to their summer campaign and appears nearly ready to resume their Premier League activities. Arne Slot will undoubtedly be pleased with Liverpool’s performance, particularly their comfortable victories over both Arsenal and Manchester United in the US.
The head coach and his support staff have reason to be satisfied with how effectively their strategies have been implemented by the Liverpool squad on the field.
It is gradually becoming clearer which players are expected to take on significant roles under Slot, with one unexpected candidate emerging on Sunday.
The exact starting lineup preferred by the manager remains uncertain, as he has yet to meet several players.
Slot has confirmed that the entire squad will assemble on Tuesday, allowing him to begin selecting his strongest team.
In the meantime, we can only make observations based on pre-season matches, which still provide valuable insights.
During the game against Manchester United, Slot evaluated two more of his senior players for the first time: Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch.
Konate had some difficulty overcoming a poor end to the previous season, while Gravenberch gradually improved and delivered a strong performance in one of the midfield positions.
Although it was anticipated that the 22-year-old would play only 45 minutes in his first game back, Slot kept Gravenberch on the field for over an hour, substituting him with just 26 minutes remaining.
Notably, Slot decided to replace Curtis Jones in midfield before Gravenberch, indicating a clear intention to expedite his compatriot’s integration into the team.
Gravenberch impressed with his ball control, athleticism, and technical skills during the match against United, suggesting he is a good fit for the role in the team.
Ryan Gravenberch Set for Big Liverpool Role
With Konate being substituted at half-time, it was notable that Gravenberch stayed on the field.
The Netherlands international is currently at a similar stage in his pre-season training as Konate, and Slot had other options available to come off the bench.
This suggests that the head coach might be planning to assign Gravenberch to one of the two midfield positions for the upcoming season.
Such a move would contradict the rumors that Slot is not interested in keeping Gravenberch and is considering selling him this summer.
If Liverpool were to let him go, it would be a major error. Although Gravenberch’s debut season at Anfield wasn’t remarkable, he possesses “unbelievable potential,” and Slot might be in a position to help him realize it.
In other Liverpool news, Gary McAllister Claims One Liverpool Player Looks “Totally Different” During Pre-season
