Liverpool struck a €100m deal this season. The way things are going, it will fail.
Liverpool are focusing somewhat on their midfield in 2026, having left it untouched for 2025. Phase one of the plan is complete, too, with Ryan Gravenberchsigning a long-term contract.
That deal is worth a reported €100m over the course of it. Liverpool have gone big on Gravenberch with the agreement but it’s not a guaranteed win.
In fact, Sunday’s 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford highlighted why it’s on course to fail. Liverpool paid Gravenberch that amount so he could be the focus of their midfield, the player they build the base of it around.
However, they’ve done an absolutely awful job of that. Manchester United’s midfield dominated the Reds’ equivalent, both in terms of attacking output and, more notably, defensively.
Liverpool’s midfield pairing completed two (2) tackles across the 90 minutes. Both of those came from Alexis Mac Allister and the pair sitting in front of the defence each completed just six defensive contributions for the team. They completed a grand total of four recoveries between them.
United, also playing with a sitting two, saw Kobbie Mainoo almost match that figure on his own. He managed 10 defensive contributions along with seven recoveries. Making matters worse is the fact that Casemiro, his midfield partner, completed even more – 18 defensive contributions and his four tackles doubled Liverpool’s midfield on his own.
This is unsustainable. Liverpool simply will not get anywhere with their midfield if they’re entirely incapable of battling in games like this.
Because it isn’t an anomaly. Gravenberch sits in the 32nd percentile for defensive contributions among midfielders. He simply won’t bring any bite there and that problem is greatly exacerbated if his midfield partner also doesn’t contribute.
It creates a weak midfield and one that will cause that €100m investment to fail dramatically unless some sort of fix is found.
Ryan Gravenberch: Situation Summary
Liverpool Performance and Stats
As of 4 May 2026, Ryan Gravenberch remains a central figure in Liverpool’s midfield, though his form has fluctuated compared to his award-winning 2024/25 campaign. The 23-year-old has made 46 appearances across all competitions this season, contributing five goals and six assists. Despite signing a new six-year contract in March 2026—reportedly worth £277,000 per week—his performances in a deeper “number six” role have drawn criticism for a perceived lack of sharpness. He played the full 90 minutes in a 3–0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on 3 May, following a brief substitute appearance in the win over Crystal Palace. He currently maintains an average FotMob rating of 7.25.
Transfer and Squad Outlook
While Gravenberch is tied to the club until 2032, reports suggest Arne Slot is seeking a specialized defensive midfielder this summer to "unlock" his compatriot’s offensive potential. Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller has been linked as a potential partner who would allow Gravenberch to move further forward.
International Standing
Gravenberch is considered a "guaranteed" selection for Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup this June. However, he recently faced public criticism from Koeman following a friendly win over Norway, with the manager accusing him of defensive lapses in the lead-up to an opposition goal.
