Arne Slot hails Liverpool’s midfield platform and Ryan Gravenberch’s development

LIVERPOOL – Liverpool may have scored more goals than any other team in the English Premier League this season, but manager Arne Slot has highlighted the importance of deep-lying midfielders to his system and praised the development of Ryan Gravenberch.

The free-scoring Reds have netted 50 times in 21 league matches, with attacker Mohamed Salah hogging the spotlight with 21 goals and 17 assists in all competitions this term.

Slot, however, had been keen to strengthen his midfield in the summer with a deal for Real Sociedad pivot Martin Zubimendi seemingly done, before the Spain midfielder pulled out of the move at the last minute, pledging his love for his boyhood club.

He might be having second thoughts about that decision, with widespread reports that he has virtually agreed a move to Arsenal at the end of the season.

Not that Slot is too bothered by that, particularly with the form and evolution of Dutch compatriot Gravenberch as a key cog in his midfield.

Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the Champions League clash against Lille on Jan 21, Slot said: “The player we wanted to bring in (Zubimendi) – I think that’s pretty much out in the open now – he was also a player who was really comfortable.

“He’s still a player who could bring the ball from the last line to our forwards. This is a special quality Ryan has. The ability to turn away from his man.

“He is one of a few holding midfielders, pivots, whatever you call them in this country, who can create an overload by a dribble.

“Most of these players pass a lot but to create an overload by a dribble, you don’t see that much. You don’t see that much as a No. 6.”

Like Gravenberch, another midfielder who has come in from the periphery under Slot is Curtis Jones.

He told TNT Sports: “The thing is now with Slot and his staff is he knows lads who are good with the ball. He knows the likes of how much we do off the ball as well, so I think he appreciates me as an overall player, I’d say.”

Slot, who replaced the iconic Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager in the summer, highlighted the importance of midfielders in providing the platform for his “pretty special” front three.

He said: “The (No. 6 roles) are important to me, but they are especially important for our attackers. We feel we have attackers that are pretty special – the front three – and we’ve got five or six of them.

“So the only thing we have to make sure is that these players come into promising positions having the ball a lot. Therefore you need two sixes who can bring the ball to them.

“With Macca (Alexis Mac Allister) and Ryan, we have two players who can bring the ball to the likes of Mo Salah, to Cody Gakpo, to Darwin Nunez, to Diogo Jota.”

While Liverpool’s free-scoring nature has come to the fore in the Premier League, the Reds’ defensive prowess in Europe has been equally impressive.

Slot’s Champions League table-toppers have conceded just once in six matches, the best record alongside Inter Milan, who have scored almost half as many goals as the Reds (13).

However, Lille could prove a tougher than expected challenge at Anfield on Jan 21.

The French side are on a 21-match unbeaten run and eighth in the Champions League table, the last of the automatic knockout stage spots.

They have already beaten European champions Real Madrid, as well as their Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid, and drawn with Juventus.

Bruno Genesio’s Ligue 1 side also boast coveted Canadian striker Jonathan David, who has 17 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season.