Ryan Gravenberch likened to two World Cup winners as UK media reacts to Liverpool derby win

Liverpool's 2-1 triumph over Everton in the 247th Merseyside derby marks their fifth consecutive Anfield victory against their local rivals, a feat not achieved since the mid-1930s.

Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike netted the goals that ensured victory for the Premier League champions, despite Idrissa Gueye's second-half effort. The leaders have now bagged maximum points from their first five matches.

It was another important win for Arne Slot's men, which put more pressure on title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City ahead of their game at the Emirates on Sunday. Unsurprisingly, the UK media was impressed with Liverpool's latest performance and three points, with one man in particular getting the plaudits..

Lewis Steele- The Daily Mail

"Mohamed Salah had a pop at a fan account online for disrespecting Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz when it was claimed the new No 7 and No 9, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, were a huge upgrade on those who wore those shirts last season.

"So we will go careful in how we phrase this but, with the greatest respect to Nunez who had some memorable moments in a Reds shirt, Ekitike already seems like a more complete forward who will be well worth the £79m they paid for him.

"Not just his calm finish, slotted through Jordan Pickford's legs under pressure, but the Frenchman offers so much more in terms of all-round play – linking up with midfielders, dropping deep to receive the ball and popping up out wide to run at players.

"Ryan Gravenberch must be a dream to manage. He can pass and dictate the tempo like a prime Andrea Pirlo, he runs around like a dog putting in the hard yards out of possession – and now he can arrive into the penalty area late and score goals, too!

"In his initial months on Merseyside, the 23-year-old gave some interviews in which he said he styled his game on Zinedine Zidane, the great France and Real Madrid midfielder, and his goal here was something his idol would have been proud of.

"Before readers accuse us of comparing the two, Gravenberch knows he has a lot to improve. One thing Slot is trying to do is to help last year's Premier League Young Player of the Season with his offensive game, aiming to get him into more attacking spaces."

Paul Joyce - The Times

"Already this term Gravenberch has two [goals] and the timing of his run off Everton's leaden-footed midfield and the majesty of his finish was one for a highlight reel which already possesses some jaw-dropping moments of individual skill.

"The threaded pass that served up the chance for Hugo Ekitike to score what was the winner was not too bad either. Consider, too, his workrate and defensive duties and his talents are undeniably rounded.

"The progress he has made over the past 12 months reflects his whole approach to his career. He has also embraced the need to take recovery seriously between matches by following the example laid down by fellow Dutchman Van Dijk who comes across as mentor to Gravenberch.

"Already this term he has two and the timing of his run off Everton's leaden-footed midfield and the majesty of his finish was one for a highlight reel which already possesses some jaw-dropping moments of individual skill. The threaded pass that served up the chance for Hugo Ekitike to score what was the winner was not too bad either. Consider, too, his workrate and defensive duties and his talents are undeniably rounded.

"The progress he has made over the past 12 months reflects his whole approach to his career. He has also embraced the need to take recovery seriously between matches by following the example laid down by fellow Dutchman Van Dijk who comes across as mentor to Gravenberch."

Chris Bascombe - The Telegraph

"Let's talk about Ryan Gravenberch, the cool head in an otherwise anxious Liverpool Merseyside derby win.

"You would have noticed his rise to prominence last season, and recognised the deserving praise for a footballer reinvented as a deep-lying midfielder. But the chances are you would have swiftly moved the conversation on to Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk when discussing the pivotal figures in Liverpool's title campaign, or shrugged your shoulders and commented that while Gravenberch is good, he is levels below the contemporary greats.

"Maybe think again. Gravenberch is rapidly becoming the most influential midfielder in the Premier League. Scratch that. There can be no one better operating in his position across Europe.

"Since the end of last season, coaches have worked out that the way to stop Liverpool is to target Gravenberch. Despite each of their victories including the occasional blemishes, none have yet succeeded in smothering his considerable influence."

Meanwhile, writing in The Guardian, Will Unwin reflects: "On paper, at least, Liverpool have thus far achieved perfection with a fifth win in five Premier League games to keep them looking down on everyone else, but they are yet to find their best form. There was a rare lack of late drama in their Merseyside derby triumph over Everton, instead having to cling on to secure the points.

"After a swashbuckling first half in which Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike created a two-goal lead for the champions, Everton awoke and got back into the match thanks to Idrissa Gueye. From then on the visitors were the better team and caused Liverpool plenty of problems but David Moyes left Anfield for the 21st time without a Premier League victory.

"Everton approached the game cautiously, putting everyone in blue behind the ball whenever Liverpool were in possession. Moyes plotted a pragmatic gameplan in the hope of keeping the league leaders quiet. Liverpool took advantage of how deep their opponents were, enjoying the vast majority of possession.

"An early goal felt almost inevitable and it came within 10 minutes when Gravenberch broke through the defensive lines to reach a bouncing Mohamed Salah cross, which he hooked beyond Jordan Pickford with expert technique.

"There were glimpses of promise for Everton to get back into the game. Playing in a direct fashion, Beto was hassling the Liverpool centre-backs and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall fired wide after a neat exchange with Jack Grealish, but these are the chances that need to be taken at Anfield."