Gravenberch shows he could be a pivotal member after dazzling in win over Fulham

Liverpool saw something in Ryan Gravenberch that Bayern Munich did not. After tracking the Dutchman for several seasons, dating back to before his failed stint in Bavaria, the Reds knew he could be a pivotal member of their midfield.

Sadly for Liverpool fans, they have not had much of a window into just why the recruitment team thought he would be a star player. Save for glimpses here and there, it’s been a difficult first year in England for Gravenberch.

But Sunday’s performance against Fulham showed an example of what a fine midfielder he can become - and already might be if given chances to shine. He scored an important goal, Liverpool’s first from open play after four games without one, with a curling side-footed finish.

Aside from that, though, the 21-year-old put in a solid performance, perhaps his best in a league match for the Reds. He had a few shaky touches to start and looked a yard off the pace, but grew in confidence and started to dictate proceedings from midfield.

Gravenberch popped up in dangerous pockets - a No 8 on the team-sheet but his touch map showed he was an all-action midfielder with positive moments all over the pitch - and he put in a solid defensive shift off the ball.

It is not a huge slight to say he has not hit the ground running as he might have liked in his first season on Merseyside. Some of the best midfielders in the league, like Bernardo Silva or Martin Odegaard, had slow starts in their first seasons at Manchester City and Arsenal respectively.

But with this his 34th appearance for Liverpool, Gravenberch has now matched the number of matches he played for Bayern Munich across two seasons in which he could barely make an impression under a number of managers following moving from Ajax as