Arne Slot has picked out Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch as two players who have surprised him with their quality since he arrived as Liverpool boss.
It has been a brilliant time for Slot since he joined the Reds, taking on the seemingly difficult challenge of replacing Jurgen Klopp, but excelling in the role.
Liverpool sit top of the Premier League and Champions League group stage tables, losing just one game across both competitions so far this season.
There have been some standout performances, notably from Mohamed Salah who has scored 23 goals already this campaign, but it is Van Dijk and Gravenberch who he was most surprised by since his arrival from Feyenoord.
Speaking on the BBC’s Football Focus, Slot said: ‘Everybody here in England would tell you that Virgil van Dijk is the best defender in the world. In Holland he got a bit more criticism than he gets over here in England.
‘I was, in a very positive way, surprised how good he was on the ball, how he could play balls through the lines.
‘From the first day I worked with him, I was like: “Wow, this is definitely another level than I’m used to.”‘
On Gravenberch’s improvement in central midfield, he added: ‘And the one that probably the made the step from here to here, that even I didn’t expect, is of course Ryan Gravenberch.’
Still just 22 years old, the former Ajax and Bayern Munich player has impressed this season in a deeper role at the base of midfield.
The Netherland international arrived at Anfield in September 2023 but made just 12 Premier League starts in his first season, while he has started all 22 top flight games so far this campaign.
More than his switch of position, he credits the regular starts, and the confidence this has given him, as the reason for his success.
‘Now I play a lot of games as a starter, so it’s a little bit different. The coach gave me confidence when I needed it and I’m happy that I can show myself again,’ Gravenberch told TNT Sports last month.
‘Just the run of games, you really need it to be honest. Sometimes it’s really hard. For example, if you’re on the bench and the next game you play good, the next game you’re on the bench, then you come in for 10 minutes, then the 10 minutes are not really going how you want it Then the next game you’re on the bench again, so that’s difficult.
‘So yeah, just the run of games – that gives you the confidence if you’re doing good on the pitch.
‘I’m happy that I’m playing. To be on the pitch again for 90 minutes and I can show off myself.’
MORE: Arsenal enter race to sign £24m attacker ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United
MORE: Man Utd get green light to turn Old Trafford into Britain’s biggest stadium
MORE: ‘Naive’ Ruben Amorim told he is ‘killing’ Manchester United forward
