Delaney Suggests Ryan Gravenberch May Struggle Against Chelsea and Arsenal

Ryan Gravenberch has successfully overcome every challenge in the 2024/25 season at Liverpool. The Dutch midfielder received widespread praise for his ‘outstanding’ performance against Bologna, helping Liverpool secure a 2-0 victory over the Serie A side, according to Caughtoffside.

Despite his strong start, there are still questions about whether the 22-year-old can maintain his high level of play against tougher opponents, particularly when Liverpool faces Chelsea and Arsenal.

Gravenberch’s ability to perform in these high-stakes matches has been a topic of discussion, especially as Liverpool manager Arne Slot has made a strong start at Anfield. Slot has secured eight wins in nine matches, with only a 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest preventing a perfect record—a result that increasingly looks like an anomaly as the season progresses. Slot has also benefited from a favorable early fixture schedule.

Although Manchester United appeared to be Liverpool’s toughest opponent on paper, their recent heavy defeat at home to the Merseysiders suggests otherwise. However, the real challenges for both Slot and Gravenberch lie ahead after the international break.

Former player Damien Delaney shared this view when discussing the tests posed by Chelsea and Arsenal later in October. Speaking to Virgin Media Sport, the 43-year-old commented: “They look very, very good, of course, but I still have concerns about the No.6 position. I think Gravenberch, in those types of games, might struggle.”

While things have gone smoothly so far, Delaney hinted that the tougher fixtures could expose potential weaknesses in Liverpool’s setup.