Liverpool revelation could transform £35m star in trophy hunt

Liverpool learned something vital on Saturday night. It could transform Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool saw out a really solid win in the FA Cup against Brighton on Saturday. The Seagulls came to Anfield put failed to find any control against the Reds, who would run out 3-0 winners.

Curtis Jones scored the first from a wonderful Milos Kerkez cross to open the scoring. His first goal in over 50 games and it came from right-back.

Then Liverpool and Mo Salah put on a show for the other two. The first might be the best team goal we've seen all season as Cody Gakpo fired a switch of play to Salah, who played in Dominik Szoboszlai with one touch.

The Hungarian fired it home emphatically for 2-0. Salah then showed incredible determination to win a penalty for the third as he forced his way through Brighton's defence. He stepped up to score it, of course.

Rio Ngumoha saw a fourth cruelly - and wrongly - ruled out for offside in the second half. Liverpool, though, didn't need it as they saw this one out well.

The Ryan Gravenberch revelation

Arne Slot didn't start Ryan Gravenberch here in a rare one against a Premier League side. In fact, the Dutchman didn't even come on and was simply rested for it.

And what a win that is. Gravenberch is arguably the most overworked player in Liverpool's squad, given he's a midfielder who plays virtually every minute he's been available for.

A lot of that has come from Liverpool not feeling comfortable without him at the best of midfield. Here, though, the Reds used Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones at various periods to great effect.

Now, this isn't to say that Liverpool don't need Gravenberch. Far from it, in fact.

The team suffered last season when he reached a point of being overworked. He visibly tired over the second half of the campaign and Liverpool were much worse off for it.

But the Reds proved today that they can rest Gravenberch and still control a midfield. That is a massive boost and one that should open the door for Slot to take things a bit easier with the player.

Do that and we should see the best of him in the latter games here. Something that's massive as the Reds look to compete in the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and for a top five Premier League place.

Get the best out of Gravenberch and this team is a much stronger one.

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