LIVERPOOL, England -- With Liverpool under pressure in the dying minutes of their battling 2-1 victory over Everton, the ball fell to Ryan Gravenberch. The midfielder, camped deep inside of his own half, took it in stride and released it to Mohamed Salah. Within seconds, Liverpool were bearing down on the Everton goal.
It was far from the most eye-catching moment in Gravenberch's all-action display, but it reinforced a sentiment that is becoming increasingly difficult to argue against: He has become irreplaceable to Liverpool.
The Netherlands midfielder was something of an afterthought when he first arrived at Anfield in a £34 million move from Bayern Munich in 2022.