Liverpool are back in action on Thursday evening as they take on Italian side Atalanta in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
The Reds eased past Sparta Prague in the round of 16, hammering the Czech side 11-2 on aggregate.
This should be a much tougher test though, which is hardly what Liverpool need as they battle for the Premier League title.
Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Manchester United was a disappointment but Liverpool must get themselves up and go again as Atalanta visit Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp will want a first-leg lead to take to Bergamo in the second leg and he will be considering changes for Thursday’s clash.
Rotating the midfield had been a feature of Europa League games and one player will be knocking on the door for an appearance.
Jurgen Klopp on Ryan Gravenberch
Ryan Gravenberch managed 60 minutes against Sheffield United last Thursday having made his return from injury against Brighton and Hove Albion just a few days earlier.
Gravenberch picked up an injury against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final in February, ruling him him out for over a month.
Now back in action again, Gravenberch will hope to feature against Atalanta having been an unused substitute at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Liverpool boss Klopp has been speaking ahead of Thursday’s game and, as captured by This Is Anfield, he spoke about Gravenberch.
Klopp accepts that Gravenberch got injured in ‘bad moments’, halting his momentum in the process.
Klopp thinks that Gravenberch is an ‘incredible talent’ though, praising his ‘crazy first touch’ as well as his acceleration.
The German added that Gravenberch will get more minutes going forward and he is now at the right club after a one-year spell at Bayern Munich.
“Ryan played for us some super important games,” said Klopp. “He got injured in bad moments, where he could get some rhythm. Then he had little injuries here and there again. Incredible talent, crazy first touch, movement, acceleration, all fantastic but we have a really good midfield together. So he will get minutes more and more 100% it will go his way 100%, he’s an incredibly talented player and I really think he’s in the right place and at the right club,” he added.
Gravenberch faces tough Liverpool challenge
Liverpool clearly believe in Gravenberch; that is why they forked out around £34million to lure him from Bayern Munich last summer.
The Dutchman has only started 10 Premier League games this season though, and that highlights the battle he faces.
Wataru Endo has become a fan favourite with his tireless displays in midfield whilst Alexis Mac Allister has arguably been one of their best players in recent weeks.
Dominik Szoboszlai has outstanding quality and Klopp can also call upon the likes of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott in midfield too.
Liverpool have great midfield options right now and Gravenberch is just one of them, meaning he has to fight and scrap for every possible opportunity.
The 21-year-old has time on his side and he certainly seems to be more appreciated inside Anfield than he was at Bayern.
Gravenberch may well start against Atalanta and he will be looking to prove that he deserves more minutes before his first season in the Premier League comes to an end.
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