Liverpool midfielder pays the price for woeful season, it's not good

When looking at Liverpool's team, you could say that most of them have had less than impressive seasons.

Even though they managed to qualify for the Champions League, it was by the skin of their teeth and only because of their form at the start of the season.

Most of Liverpool's first-team squad were expected to become even better this term, especially with all the new players that they brought through the Anfield doors.

Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah were expected to form a dynamic duo but, thanks to injuries and Arne Slot's lack of trust in Salah, that never became a reality.

As mentioned, almost all of the Reds' players have been poor but, there are one or two who were exceptionally bad with one of them now set to pay the price.

Ryan Gravenberch is going to be dropped by Ronald Koeman for the Netherlands

Usually, Liverpool's Dutch players have been some of the first names on the team sheet for their country.

Each of them have specific roles within their national team set-up which rarely get taken by other players.

However, one major omission was Jeremie Frimpong with Ronald Koeman not even taking the defender to America.

Luckily, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch all got called up but, for the latter of the three, his poor form this season could come back to haunt him if a report from Algemeen Dagblad via Soccer News NL is to be believed.

"As stated: the aforementioned newspaper is anticipating an intervention," they wrote.

"Koeman really needs to do something with the harsh conclusion that has been reached: the best Oranje matches of recent years had a completely different dynamic.

"Back then, a different midfield played together. During the Nations League double header against Spain in March 2025, De Jong and Reijnders formed a complementary duo, and Justin Kluivert was the driving force for them.

"With Reijnders beside him (or diagonally in front of him), De Jong plays balls forward faster and more easily. Add Kluivert to this trio and Oranje has a playmaker, a box-to-box midfielder, and a true 'number 10' on the pitch.

"Incidentally, Teun Koopmeiners is also mentioned, who can play in Gravenberch's position: “Koopmeiners played in the second friendly against Uzbekistan on Monday.

"He was deliberately positioned centrally in midfield, so to speak, in the Gravenberch role. Unfortunately, it was impossible to verify how that turned out, as that second match was played behind closed doors."

Ryan Gravenberch must prove why he's been given a bumper new deal before it's too late

The fact that Liverpool offered Gravenberch a massive new deal after the season he's had is mind-boggling.

Of course, a lot of Liverpool's thought process will have been based on his form last term but, to offer the Dutchman over £270,000-per-week in the middle of the season is rather questionable.

The fact that Slot turned him into one of the best defensive-midfielders in the world last term isn't something that should be forgotten about but, with his inability to tackle his opponents and keep hold of the ball, it's clear that he's not cut out to be a number six.

Despite this, the Dutchman could still prove that he's worth the pay rise if he can show that he's better when used further forwards, much like his role with the Netherlands.

And, since Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai could both be exiting this summer, Iraola could end up having the option of moving him further up the pitch.

This could then result in Liverpool getting the best out of him and the Dutchman proving that he's worth the €100 million that they'll spend on him during his five-year deal.

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