"Now I get the ball more" - Liverpool star admits he is more comfortable under Arne Slot than Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool star Ryan Gravenberch has admitted that he is enjoying life under new Reds boss Arne Slot. The Dutchman claimed that he feels more comfortable under his compatriot compared to how he felt under Jurgen Klopp.
Gravenberch has been excellent for Liverpool so far this season having played every minute across their opening three league games. He has caught the eye in a double pivot alongside Alexis Mac Allister, helping Slot's side win all three games.
The Netherlands international did not have the best debut season at Anfield following his reported £34.2 million move from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023. He played just 1,848 minutes of football across competitions under Jurgen Klopp having started 21 games and coming on as a substitute on 18 occasions.
On being asked about his resurgence in form under Arne Slot, the 22-year-old insisted that he feels more confident with his compatriot in the dugout. He said, as quoted by Metro:
"I just feel good in my skin, to be honest. But does that have a reason? Yeah, things are going well at the club. I’m just doing my thing, and it’s working out well now. He [Slot] gives me confidence now. He just lets me start in the lineup. It’s going pretty well. As a player, you obviously want to get minutes."
"For me, that confidence is part of it. With that confidence, I feel more comfortable, and with the minutes, it keeps getting better. He’s a good coach. He knows what he wants. He has a clear plan. Yeah, so far, we’re executing it really well. Clarity from the start is always nice for me."
The Liverpool midfielder also claimed that he is getting more involved in the game this season which has helped him excel on the pitch. He added:
"There were sometimes matches in which I had only touched the ball once after five or six minutes. Then you don’t get into your game. Now I get the ball more, then you get more comfortable."
Gravenberch has so far made 41 appearances for Liverpool contributing with four goals and two assists.
Liverpool legend offers advice to Darwin Nunez
Liverpool great Luis Suarez has offered his advice for compatriot Darwin Nunez after the striker was banned from the Uruguay national team. The 25-year-old has been handed a lengthy five-match ban by CONMEBOL for a brawl following Uruguay's semi-final defeat to Colombia at this summer’s Copa America.
Suarez, one of the finest players ever produced by Uruguay, advised his compatriot to show mental strength to bounce back from the setback. The former Barcelona striker said, as quoted by Goal:
"I already spoke with Darwin when he was sanctioned in England. Sometimes people enjoy it more when you are on the ground and fall, but people feel more pain when you get back up."
The former Liverpool striker added:
"And that is what he has to do: get up and continue to show the kind of player he is. That is where you see the great players and the mental strength he has to have to show those people that they like to see him on the ground."
Darwin Nunez has played just 32 minutes of football for Liverpool this season coming off the bench in two games. Arne Slot has favored the front three of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz so far this season. The Uruguay international has found the back of the net 33 times while producing 17 assists in 98 appearances for Liverpool across competitions.