Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch explains why he will be much better against Newcastle this season

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Liverpool face Newcastle in the Premier League on Monday as they aim to continue their excellent record at St James’ Park.

The Reds have not lost at the Magpies’ home since 2015, but will face perhaps their most difficult test in the past decade.

One reason for that is because, under Eddie Howe, Newcastle have become a very good football team who can give any Premier League side a game on their day.

Another, possibly bigger factor, is the current situation regarding Liverpool and Alexander Isak.

Newcastle and their fans have been angry at Liverpool for a perceived unsettling of their star striker ahead of a huge summer move. Resentment has grown to the point that St James’ Park may resemble a bear pit on Monday.

In that context, Liverpool must keep their heads and play their game. And according to Ryan Gravenberch, he personally is expecting a much better performance than the one he put in last time out at St James’.

Ryan Gravenberch ready for Newcastle test

Liverpool have missed Gravenberch badly in the two games he has been absent for this season.

After seeing his partner give birth the day before the Community Shield match, the Dutchman was then suspended against Bournemouth. Liverpool looked very open in midfield as a result.

Ahead of his return to the team, though Gravenberch says he is feeling good and ready to match the physical test posed by Newcastle.

“I’m feeling good, I’m feeling great,” the 23-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com. “Obviously I couldn’t play the first Premier League game, so I’m happy to be back with the team.”

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“Newcastle are really good, we know it will be a really tough game for us. They are really physical, they are good in set-pieces, so we prepare really good for them and we want to show that we give our all against them on Monday.”

“We analysed the game against Bournemouth, of course, and also against Crystal Palace,” Gravenberch added. “We knew what we had to do better. So obviously we train on it, we train on [being] in possession and everything.

“For me it was my first time that I played there [at St James’ Park] last season. To be honest, it was a really tough game for myself, so I know what you can expect now. They are really physical and they gave everything. We know from the Carabao Cup final they are good in set-pieces. We need to prepare well and then we will show on Monday what we can [do].”

What happened to Gravenberch last year?

Gravenberch is right to pinpoint the Newcastle game last season as being one in which he struggled.

After a truly brilliant start to the campaign, the trip to St James’ in December marked the first slightly below-par match of his season.

Having been given the run-around by Newcastle’s notoriously strong midfield, Gravenberch was taken off by Arne Slot with the Reds 2-1 down.

Liverpool ultimately turned the game around to lead 3-2, before a late Caoimhin Kelleher blunder allowed Fabian Schar to equalise late on.

As Gravenberch mentions, he also was not at his best during the Carabao Cup final as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton got the better of hin and Alexis Mac Allister. Better is needed this time from the Premier League’s young player of the year.