Andoni Iraola left Ryan Gravenberch on the bench against Arsenal, then said: "We trust him." It was the first Premier League match since the defeat at FC Everton in April 2024 in which Gravenberch was not used for a single minute despite being available. With Liverpool now balancing league and European demands, the midfield call is no longer a small one.

Iraola's backing

Speaking to SPORT1 in comments translated from German, Iraola said: "He has had better and worse games this season. Recently he has played many minutes and also produced very good matches. We trust him. We know what he can do, and like with other players I try to help when they are not playing well. If he is in a good phase, we try to keep him there. With Ryan it is the same."

The quote matters because it frames the benching as part of a form conversation, not a wider fallout. Gravenberch has only seven Premier League appearances this season and 344 minutes, so the decision against Arsenal fits a spell in which he has been involved, but not locked in as a guaranteed starter.

The recent dip

His ratings help explain why the door opened. Gravenberch posted 6.01 against Newcastle, then 6.53 against Brighton before the Arsenal game, and his Premier League average this season stands at 6.55. The previous league benching also came after a mixed run that included the Carabao Cup tie with Chelsea, where he caused a penalty and then missed in the shootout, and the match against Manchester City, where he saw a yellow-red card at 0-0 before Liverpool went on to lose 0-3.

Trey Nyoni started alongside Alexis Mac Allister in central midfield against Arsenal, which shows Liverpool were willing to change the shape rather than simply carry Gravenberch through a difficult afternoon. March's six-year contract extension still gives him time, and he has also made three Champions League appearances this season, so the route back is there. The trip to Fenerbahçe is the next chance for him to respond.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →