Liverpool must unleash “sensational” star who’d walk into the Madrid team

Liverpool scrambled again from the worry of a Premier League upset on Sunday afternoon to increase their lead on the summit to eight factors, following Manchester City‘s shock defeat towards Tottenham Hotspur the day earlier than.

Issues could not be going higher for Arne Slot‘s aspect, who’re the clear favourites for the title even at a degree of the marketing campaign when many observers would scoff at claims of title competition.

They are saying to evaluate the league desk after Christmas, however it might take a dramatic nosedive in kind for Liverpool to plummet under first place in that timeframe.

Anyway. The Merseysiders usually are not solely competing within the prime flight. Certainly, Slot’s squad sit atop the newly-formatted, 36-team Champions League group on the midpoint, however now face Real Madrid, who’re in solemn want of three factors at Anfield on Wednesday night.

Liverpool’s current document vs Actual Madrid

Liverpool’s current document towards Actual Madrid has left lots to be desired. In actual fact, it is left the whole lot. Two Champions League last defeats, two knockout stage exits and one beaten-twice group stage wrestle, underneath Brendan Rodgers in 2014/15, have formed the Spaniards into Liverpool’s most despised foe.

It is going to be powerful, and whereas the stakes aren’t fairly as excessive as lately, there may be nonetheless a burning want to attain payback and reinforce Slot’s unimaginable begin to life as Jurgen Klopp‘s successor.

That is nearly as good a time as ever to defeat Los Blancos, although. Vinicius Junior‘s false daybreak within the Ballon d’Or doesn’t detract from the Brazilian being one of many deadliest forwards on the planet, and it’s fortuitous for the Anfield aspect that he has picked up a hamstring harm that can rule him out this week.

After all, the flip aspect is that Kylian Mbappe will get his want and transfer into his favoured left-flanking function. Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to coaching however is probably not match, which means Conor Bradley might deputise as soon as once more.

Actual have an awe-inspiring workforce of galacticos, however it’s not an infallible building. In actual fact, Liverpool have some stars of their very own would may stroll proper into the La Liga giants’ 11.

Mohamed Salah being one, for the 32-year-old might be the most effective ahead on the planet proper now, with 12 goals and ten assists from 18 matches in all competitions and an insatiable starvation for the most important prizes.

He isn’t the one one, although, with Ryan Gravenberch having fun with a spectacular season. Imagine it or not, the Dutchman may simply have hit the extent that might see him set up a nailed-down beginning berth on the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Liverpool star who’d be excellent for Carlo’s Actual Madrid

Liverpool signed Bayern Munich’s Gravenberch for a £34m fee in August 2023 in what proved to be Klopp’s last switch transfer because the Anfield aspect’s supervisor.

He solely managed 13 Premier League starts final season however has gone from power to power underneath Slot’s wing, levelling up and maturing a skillset that was blessed with patent high quality however missing in temperament and course.

Yet to miss a minute within the prime flight this time period, the many-faceted qualities of this burgeoning midfielder have seen him rise to the fore, and he may simply be the right piece for this Actual Madrid workforce. In any case, he is really outshining the La Liga aspect’s first-choice intermediary Aurelien Tchouameni.

The respective anchors are each clearly on the prime of their recreation, however Gravenberch, praised by Steve Nicol for his “sensational” kind, is proving to be extra energetic, cellular and combative, on the entire.

Tchouameni yields a barely greater common in regard to his tackling and intercepting numbers, whereas he’s additionally the crisper passer, however this latter metric is upheld by way of the ceding of creativity, one thing that Gravenberch excels in, with double the important thing cross creation charge and a far superior ball-carrying common.

Ancelotti’s tactical id is steeped in ball retention but additionally quick transitional play and suppleness. It is a well-known undeniable fact that, in a world of tactical sagaciousness, Don Carlo employs a looser, much less scripted model.

Gravenberch has demonstrated his dynamism after which some this season, slotting right into a deeper-sitting, extra defence-focused midfield function that has seen him breaking away from the confines of up-and-down prospect to famous person. Football scout Miguel Ruiz has just lately pronounced the Dutchman as “the linchpin” of Liverpool’s engine room.

Not solely is Gravenberch outstripping Tchouameni, however statistical analysis conducted by FBref has seen him likened to the versatile Federico Valverde too, solely deepening the declare that this is likely to be the right midfielder for Ancelotti’s Actual workforce.

Rating among the many prime 6% of Champions League midfielders this season for cross completion and the highest 10% for progressive carries per 90 (FBref), the £150k-per-week talent may actually be the difference-maker, controlling and nullifying Liverpool’s opponents.

Naturally, his performances for the Reds this season have led to rogue transfer rumours surfacing that the Spaniards are keen on finishing a deal in 2025, however you’d should say that FSG would demand astronomical figures.

In any case, he’ll be one to observe underneath the European lights.

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