Ryan Gravenberch names 'special' Liverpool teammate and explains Zinedine Zidane inspiration

Ryan Gravenberch has been speaking about his Liverpool teammate, Florian Wirtz, with the German playing very well in recent weeks after adjusting to the Premier League

Florian Wirtz and Ryan Gravenberch during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Nikki Dyer - Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch says he loves playing alongside Florian Wirtz, with the German in great form of late following a $157 million (£116 million) transfer move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.

Wirtz's quality has always been evident, but in the last few weeks, it appears that he has bulked up and gotten more used to the speed and intensity of the Premier League. So far, he has scored six goals and laid on eight assists for the Reds.

"You see the quality he has," Gravenberch told club media ahead of the weekend's trip to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

"He needed a bit of time to adapt, but you see now the quality that he has in terms of what he does — scoring goals, giving assists, creating opportunities for other players to help them score.

"So it's really nice to have him here. He's a special player.

"I think you can give him the ball and he makes something happen. I don't think a lot of midfielders have that. We've got a good relationship with each other.

Ryan Gravenberch during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City.(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)

"Obviously we are both young, so we kind of go along together, we talk a lot with each other and on the pitch the same thing. When I get the ball, I try to look for him where I can."

Gravenberch also detailed where his soccer inspiration came from, revealing his love for the French superstar Zinedine Zidane, even though he retired from playing when the Dutchman was four years old.

"I've learned from Zidane just by watching clips of him, basically," said Gravenberch. "I saw the confidence he played with... the composure.

"I like to turn in the midfield, for example, and he did this as well, so I tried to look at him and see the good things he did.

"Sometimes I want to take some of that as well, but I try to bring my own things to the pitch also."

Gravenberch has made the number six position his own at Liverpool since Arne Slot arrived, with his spins in possession regularly seeing him escape his marker at Anfield.

Alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, his current contract expires in 2028, so negotiations will need to take place soon regarding an extension.

Liverpool.com says: Gravenberch hasn't been as good this season as he was last, but he remains a key man for Slot. He, like the rest of the team, has had to adjust to having new players around him, but it should all click into place soon.