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Alexis Mac Allister reveals how Ryan Gravenberch left everyone at Liverpool surprised

Mehdi Gokal

Fri 30 May 2025 9:45, UK

Liverpool enjoyed an incredible first season under new manager Arne Slot, winning their 20th Premier League title.

Slot did not make any new signings bar Federico Chiesa, and it was essentially Jurgen Klopp’s team who the Dutchman got the best out of.

There were significant improvements in several players’ performances under Klopp’s successor.

Salah spoke about Arne Slot’s impact on his game, as a switch in role allowed him to produce his best numbers in a Liverpool shirt.

Another player who performed beyond expectations was Ryan Gravenberch.

Alexis Mac Allister on Ryan Gravenberch leaving Liverpool players surprised

Klopp signed Gravenberch from Ajax in 2023, but the 23-year-old struggled to perform as a central midfielder, with the German playing Alexis Mac Allister as the holding midfielder.

However, Slot saw the potential in Gravenberch as number six and while the position was new for the young midfielder, he adapted to it flawlessly, establishing himself among the best midfielders in the league.

Mac Allister has now revealed how the Dutch midfielder left everyone stunned by his performances in the new number six role at Liverpool. Speaking on The Anfield Wrap Podcast, he said: “Yeah, definitely. I think everyone was surprised by Ryan’s level at the beginning.

“We knew what he could do, but it was a new position for him as well because we don’t play with a six, with a defensive six.

“So it was about finding that balance between Ryan and me. And to attack and defend and do well. And as you said, Dom, an amazing player. He never gets tired.”

Alexis Mac Allister influenced Ryan Gravenberch’s position change

Gravenberch played a massive role for Liverpool as they won the league title.

The 23-year-old played almost every single game of Liverpool’s Premier League campaign and established himself as one of the best, if not the best, defensive midfielders in the country.

His outstanding form was recognised as he was named the Premier League’s Young Player of the Season.

And while Slot gets the credit for putting him in the number six role, the manager has recently revealed that it was a chat with Mac Allister that led to the idea of the Dutchman playing the holding midfielder role.

During the pre-season, the World Cup winner had a chat with his new manager, telling him that while he can play as a six, he is at his best when played with a No. 6 behind him.

Slot told Sky Sports: “One of the things I spoke to most of the players [about], maybe to all of them in their summer break, and one of the things Alexis said to me, and I also felt the same about it, was that he has no problem playing as No. 6 – he did quite well the season before – but he prefers to play with a No. 6 behind him and I think that gets the best out of him.

“That’s also why we were interested in signing a No. 6, but Ryan did come back one or two days earlier – I was hoping for more but he came back one or two days earlier – and that way he could play the Manchester United game in that position (holding midfield).

“I immediately liked it because he was so comfortable on the ball. I think if you watch this game back, there’s one moment where we played the ball to him and there was someone who tried to press him, and he just used his body to [shield the ball] and the player didn’t see him back for a few seconds, the one that pressed him.

“It made me feel that that would be a good asset to have and then we had to find out during the first games of the season if he was defensively strong enough, but he definitely was and I think he is one of the players now who has the most interceptions and all these kind of things.”