Troy Deeney says ‘excellent’ Liverpool ace is making fans forget about failed summer transfer

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Liverpool sit top of the Premier League standings after seven games, with Arne Slot getting off to a dream start as manager of the Reds.

The Anfield side have emerged as title contenders with Liverpool leading Manchester City and Arsenal by just a single point, with Slot’s side coming away with a gritty 1-0 win against Crystal Palace away at Selhurst Park.

Although Alisson Becker and Alexis Mac Allister were lost through injury, Liverpool showed against the Eagles why they should be considered an outside favourite for the Premier League title away from City and Arsenal.

And Troy Deeney has highlighted one Liverpool player for praise considering what almost happened this summer.

Ryan Gravenberch’s breakout lauded after Martin Zubimendi episode

Writing for BBC Sport, the pundit hailed Ryan Gravenberch and the breakout season the midfielder is having at Liverpool, something that might not have happened had the Reds signed Martin Zubimendi.

The Real Sociedad international was strongly linked with a move to Anfield before Zubimendi turned down Liverpool to stay with the Basque side, opening the door for Gravenberch to thrive in the holding midfield role alongside Mac Allister.

And Deeney has been blown away with Gravenberch’s development, with the former Watford captain writing: “He was excellent. He is growing into that holding midfielder that we all thought Liverpool needed.

“Liverpool thought they needed it when they tried to sign Martin Zubimendi in the summer, but Gravenberch looks like a powerhouse and is getting better and better with each game.”

Gravenberch has been a revelation for Liverpool this season

Few would have predicted Gravenberch to be as good as he has been for Liverpool this season, yet the Dutch international has been arguably one of the best midfielders in the Premier League since finding his feet under Slot.

The 22-year-old has looked reborn this season with Gravenberch staking a claim as one of Liverpool’s most important players, with the former Bayern Munich star now a player who simply cannot be dropped from the starting XI.

And alongside Mac Allister, Liverpool have a midfield base that is good enough to challenge for the title, with Gravenberch having all the tools needed to become a real star for the Reds this season.