16 hours ago
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Ryan Gravenberch has insisted he feels good ahead of his return to the Liverpool team and has revealed he is hoping for a more balanced midfield performance when the Reds take on Newcastle United on Monday.
Liverpool’s first two displays of the season against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth earned some criticism. Certainly from a defensive point of view, the Reds were too open, something Arne Slot has even acknowledged.
That was partly due to Gravenberch’s absence. The 23-year-old missed the Community Shield as his partner had given birth the night before, while he was suspended for the visit of Bournemouth last week.
It means the ex-Ajax and Bayern Munich man will have gone three weeks without playing by the time Liverpool travels to Newcastle. Slot implied he will make an immediate return to the side at St James Park, and Gravenberch said there are no fitness concerns despite his lengthy layoff.
“I'm feeling good, I'm feeling great,” the Dutchman told Liverpool’s club website ahead of the trip to the north-east.
“Obviously I couldn't play the first Premier League game, so I'm happy to be back with the team.
“Newcastle are really good, we know it will be a really tough game for us. They are really physical, they are good in set-pieces, so we prepare really good for them and we want to show that we give our all against them on Monday.”
Slot said on Friday that Gravenberch’s absence “hurt” Liverpool against Bournemouth and added his involvement will make the Reds more solid in the middle.
Meanwhile, the returning midfielder said the team has been working on its shape during the 10-day gap between fixtures.
“We analysed the game against Bournemouth, of course, and also against Crystal Palace,” said Gravenberch.
“We knew what we had to do better. So obviously we train on it, we train on [being] in possession and everything.
“Also for the new players, they need time. Obviously they are starting now, so it's a bit difficult to have a lot of time. But I think they are doing really great.
“The Premier League, it's a different competition, also for them it's a different country. They adapt quite well and I think they will do really great for us.”
Slot also provided a hint that Alexis Mac Allister will partner Gravenberch in the center, while Florian Wirtz is likely to start in a no.10 role. That could see Dominik Szoboszlai drop out of the side at Newcastle.
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