Phil Thompson says £34m Liverpool player doesn’t have the legs to last vs Fulham today

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Phil Thompson has predicted that Ryan Gravenberch won’t last the entire match today for Liverpool against Fulham.

The Dutch midfielder was named in Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI as the Reds look to gain more ground on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League standings.

And Gravenberch has been selected to start in the midfield for Liverpool, though speaking to the Reds’ official Twitter account, Thompson doesn’t think the youngster has the fitness to last the entire game.

Signed for £34m, Gravenberch has been eased into playing regularly for Liverpool having spent all of last year as a bench warmer for Bayern Munich, and Thompson isn’t sure the midfielder will last the full 90.

The Liverpool legend said when asked about Gravenberch’s fitness: “When you’ve seen him, he hits about 60 minutes and he just went ‘oof’.

“You couldn’t push him not because he had the energy to go, but because you’ve got to be delicate. Jurgen and the staff have really eased him on, but he does look a player.”

Liverpool need to be cautious with Ryan Gravenberch vs Fulham

Gravenberch not lasting a full game might be an eye-raiser for some pundits, yet given how many games Liverpool are playing in the coming weeks, caution could be Klopp’s best friend.

The Dutch talent is clearly an outstanding prospect yet one who is not yet fit enough to start regularly in the Premier League having essentially missed a year of football last season at Bayern.

And although Gravenberch’s could be a concern, the Reds will benefit in the upcoming games in being cautious with the youngster’s minutes.

Indeed, Liverpool need every able-body possible going into the festive period, and losing Gravenberch to injury would be a nightmare situation for the Anfield side and their midfield depth.