Time to admit: Gravenberg is the best midfielder in the Premier League

In the just-concluded Merseyside derby, Liverpool beat Everton 2-1, winning five consecutive league wins and continuing to lead the standings. And behind this victory, a name is quietly rewriting people's perception of the core of the midfield - Gravenberg.

The 23-year-old Dutch midfielder is becoming the most influential midfielder in the Premier League today with amazing calmness and comprehensiveness. It can even be said that in the entire European football world, it is difficult to find a player who performs better than him in the "No. 6 position".

"Iceman" appears: the more critical the heavier the more he is, the calmer he is, in the face of the fierce confrontation and high-pressure atmosphere of the derby battle, Gravenberg showed calmness that was inconsistent with his age, and controlled the overall situation like an "Iceman". In the 10th minute of the game, he received Salah's accurate pass, and a light shot broke through the goal guarded by Pickford, opening the first record for Liverpool; in the second half, he sent another key assist to help Ekitic secure the victory. One pass and one shot perfectly interprets the ultimate form of modern midfield.

When Everton scored a goal back by Gayer and launched a counterattack frenzy, it was Gravenberg who used his calm shots and accurate interceptions to help the team stabilize the position and maintain the victory to the end. His existence makes Liverpool's midfield no longer a simple offensive and defensive transition, but a metronome that operates accurately.

All-round midfielder: The definition of "traditional 6"

"traditional midfielder" is no longer enough to describe Gravenberg. He is not the fiercest interceptor, nor the most gorgeous passer, nor the most efficient shooter, but he perfectly blends these characters to achieve an unprecedented balance.

Compared with Rice and Rodri, he has better dribbling propulsion capabilities;

Compared with Kesedo, his organizational scheduling and offensive contributions are more outstanding;

Compared with offensive midfielders like Bruno Fernandez, he can control the overall situation from a deeper position.

This season, he not only contributed 7 steals, 7 regaining the ball and 5 successful interceptions on the defensive end, but also shined on the offensive end. This is the core of Liverpool coach Arne Slott's tactical system - allowing an all-round midfielder to attack from the backcourt and become the team's "stealth commander".

From confusion to awakening: "Viela's rebirth"

Gravenberg's growth trajectory is not smooth. In the past, his versatility actually made him lose his position between the wing and the central avant-garde. It was not until he joined Liverpool and was under Slot that he really found the most suitable position for him - a "modern Vieira" with both defensive hardness, propulsion ability and offensive sense.

"This season, I gained more freedom in the midfield," Gravenberg admitted, "Last season I was more traditional 6 and had a deeper position. Now I can go forward more frequently, just like you can see. This is what I am good at, and I am very happy to score goals."

The regret of his failure to score last season has now been broken. He has scored 2 goals this season, and this is the result of the coach's encouragement to "go boldly forward". He is no longer a simple "scavenger", but an "almighty warrior" who can attack and defend.

Create history: The youngest derby pass and shooter

In this derby, Gravenberg became the youngest player in Liverpool's history in Premier League to score + assist in the Merseyside derby at the age of 23.

In the whole game, he contributed 69 touches and sent the ball into the last third of the opponent's side, showing extremely high participation on both ends of the offense and defense. Every pass, every interception, every forward pass, every time he pulls, redefines the value of modern midfielders.