Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has been making headlines with his exceptional performances, prompting comparisons to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham and former Juventus star Paul Pogba. Since Arne Slot took over at Anfield, Gravenberch has gone from being a bit-part player to one of Liverpool’s key midfielders, and it’s no surprise given the potential he showed before joining the Reds.
Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy previously reported that before Gravenberch’s move to Bayern Munich, Liverpool had identified him as one of three potential game-changers for their midfield, alongside Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni. Now, under Slot, Gravenberch is proving that he belongs in the same conversation as these top talents.
Gravenberch’s comparisons to Bellingham are not new. Former Ajax and Real Madrid star Rafael van der Vaart has long claimed that Gravenberch is “better” than Bellingham in every aspect, particularly in terms of physical presence. Van der Vaart doubled down on this belief even after Bellingham’s breakout season at Real Madrid, stating that Gravenberch’s qualities remain just as significant.
Brian Tevreden, who coached Gravenberch at Ajax, compared him to a prime Paul Pogba, citing his dominant physicality and technical skills. Tevreden noted, “He’s a better version of Pogba in his best days at Juventus, with more presence and dominance on the pitch.”
While Gravenberch plays a different role than Bellingham—operating as a number six rather than the number 10 role Bellingham occupies at Real Madrid—his influence in Liverpool’s midfield is undeniable. Despite the small sample size of matches, Gravenberch has excelled in every challenge thrown his way, dominating games and showing maturity beyond his 22 years.
Slot, however, has been cautious about hyping Gravenberch’s success too early, noting the relatively lower quality of some of the opponents he has faced so far. Nevertheless, the signs are promising, and Gravenberch’s consistency will be key to keeping the comparisons to Bellingham alive. His form suggests that he has what it takes to reach similar heights.
With Gravenberch’s best years still ahead of him, Liverpool may have unlocked their own version of Jude Bellingham, and the Dutch midfielder looks set to become an even more integral part of the team’s future. If his performances continue on this trajectory, Gravenberch will be a crucial figure in Liverpool’s midfield for years to come, as he continues to grow and dominate at the highest level.
