Pundit tells £34m player that he’s done absolutely nothing since he signed for Liverpool

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Liverpool have begun the new Premier League season with two successive wins as they aim to shape a new era under Arne Slot.

The Reds haven’t let their lack of transfer activity affect them on the pitch, having notched up 2-0 victories against Ipswich Town and Brentford.

While things are looking good under their new manager, Liverpool have thus far failed to address a glaring hole in their squad – the lack of an out-and-out number six.

After Martin Zubimendi rejected the chance to move to Anfield, the Reds have opted to use Ryan Gravenberch as their deepest midfielder.

While the Dutch international has fared decently so far, Steve Nicol believes his emergence could be a false dawn for Liverpool as he delivered a seemingly grim verdict on his Anfield career so far.

Steve Nicol pinpoints Ryan Gravenberch as a weak link for Liverpool

Nicol rued the fact that Zubimendi turned down advances from Liverpool, which has led to them using Gravenberch at the heart of the midfield.

“It’s clear they went for Zubimendi – that’s the position they wanted to fill and they haven’t,” Nicol said on ESPN UK’s YouTube channel.

The Liverpool legend feels Gravenberch has flattered to deceive at Anfield thus far, indicating that his impressive displays this season are largely because the Reds haven’t faced a quality side yet.

Nicol continued: “I don’t know if it’s kind of a false dawn that Gravenberch – who has done nothing since joining the club – has had a couple of decent games.

“But it’s Ipswich and Brentford and that’s the problem. If that’s where they’ve taken a chance, it’s where they can slip up between now and the next transfer window”

Assessing Gravenberch’s Liverpool career so far

Gravenberch joined Liverpool for £34m last summer from Bayern Munich and endured a lukewarm first season at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp.

While he showed flashes of brilliance, he failed to nail down a regular starting spot in the team as Liverpool stumbled to a third-place finish despite being in the Premier League title race until April.

Jamie Redknapp feels Gravenberch is perfect for the number six role at Liverpool, but with Slot pursuing a move for Zubimendi earlier this summer, it’s clear the new manager had other plans for that position.

However, considering the options at his disposal currently, Slot is likely to persist with Gravenberch unless Liverpool somehow manage to sign a midfielder before deadline day.

As for the Dutchman, he’s learning the ropes in a slightly unfamiliar position and is likely to be given more time to grow into the role.

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