Liverpool have a bit of a dilemma over who will play in midfield against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
The Reds have so far stuck with a regular cast of midfielders over their 13 matches so far.
But with Liverpool’s fixtures now starting to pile up – and some injury problems refusing to go away – Arne Slot is going to have to tweak things against the Seagulls.
One of the changes is likely to see Ryan Gravenberch drop out of the side for the first time since September the 25th.
Gravenberch has been a revelation this season, starting all 12 of Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League games.
The Dutchman has perhaps dropped off slightly over the last game or two, but Netherlands legend Edgar Davids has still been impressed by what he’s seen.
Edgar Davids praises Ryan Gravenberch display
Gravenberch matched Steven Gerrard last week by becoming the youngest midfielder since the Liverpool legend to start the Reds first eight league games of the season.
The 22-year-old has since added another start to his tally and looks set to be a key player for Slot this term.
As a former top level midfielder himself, Davids certainly knows how to spot a talent when he sees one.
And speaking to Sky Sports, the former Juventus and Barcelona man praised Slot’s handling of Gravenberch.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s predicted XI vs Brighton as Arne Slot hands out two full debuts
“If you look at Ryan Gravenberch, he played on the left now he plays on the right. He didn’t do well at Bayern Munich and he didn’t do very well first year in Liverpool but now he’s on top of the world,” said Davids.
“Some managers have clear visions and clear roles for certain players. But in the beginning they wanted to buy another player and they couldn’t get him, so they had to put him there.
“Then. as manager. you also have a responsibility to train him and to guide him and until now he did well.”
Who will start in midfield vs Brighton?
Having already played such a lot of football for both club and country this season, it would be a huge surprise to see Gravenberch in the line-up against Brighton.
Slot has tended to pick three from the No.38, Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones.
But, given the schedule, the Liverpool head coach would ideally like to give at least three – or perhaps all – of them the night off.
Wataru Endo is set to start but aside from the Japan captain, Slot’s options are quite thin on the ground.
Tyler Morton could play and there may also be a start for young Trey Nyoni. But whatever any of them do, they’ll almost certainly be a drop-off from the ever impressive Gravenberch.
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