Via liverpool.com
Paul Scholes is not convinced Ryan Gravenberch will be Arne Slot's regular No. 6 for Liverpool this term.
With Liverpool having not signed a defensive midfielder this summer after Spain international Martin Zubimendi opted to remain with Real Sociedad,
Slot has had to make do with the options left behind from Jurgen Klopp's tenure at Anfield.
While that is not necessarily a bad thing, Liverpool did view Zubimendi as their long-term answer to the No. 6 position they have been looking to fill for over a year now.
That has prompted Slot to field compatriot Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister in a double pivot with Dominik Szoboszlai playing further forward. And while there were some concerns about the former of three playing in a deeper role, Gravenberch has impressed so far in his new position
The Reds have won their opening two Premier League games, with Gravenberch starting both. On Sunday, Liverpool dispatched Brentford 2-0 thanks to goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah, a repeat of the scoreline from a week prior when they beat Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
despite his impressive performances, Scholes is unconvinced Gravenberch will play consistently in a deeper role for Liverpool this season.
Scholes explained that while he believes the Reds have some excellent midfielders, he does not believe Gravenberch will feature in that deeper role.
Scholes said:
“I know you talked about Gravenberch playing in that position but I'm not 100 percent that'll be his position for, five, six, seven or a number of games and I think David [Ornstein] will tell you more than anyone they are looking for someone in that position."
Ornstein then replied: "Number six specifically has been an area Liverpool has been looking it. Zubimendi emerged as a market opportunity, and it wasn't a case of if we don't get Zubimendi, we're just going to pivot to somebody else for the sake of it. They really wanted him specifically.
"And unless they find somebody that they're completely happy with, they'll wait and bide their time and be patient and be brave about that, because it's going against what a lot of the public and fanbases want which is just transfers, transfers, transfers."
Gravenberch's new position has not gone under the radar of former Liverpool boss Klopp.
Klopp said: "Ryan now plays a new role. New coach, new opportunity, these kinds of things.
"I like him a lot, Ryan, as a player. He had mini injuries and stuff like that but he played top games for us. Now he plays a different position, really nice to see."
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