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4 days ago
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Journalist Heaps Praise on ‘Magnificent' Liverpool Star After Premier League Title Win
Ryan Gravenberch: Liverpool's Breakout Star Under Slot's Reign When Liverpool confirmed the signing of Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich, the reception was mixed. Many fans and pundits questioned whether the Dutch midfielder could adapt to the demands of English football. Fast forward less than a year, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. Advertisement Gravenberch has not only silenced critics, he has emerged as one of the standout players of the Premier League season. In his first year under the management of Arne Slot, who remarkably guided Liverpool to their first Premier League title since 2020, Gravenberch thrived in a role that seemed tailor-made for his unique blend of physicality and finesse. David Lynch, speaking to Dave Davis for Anfield Index, encapsulated the surprise and admiration felt by many: 'If I had to pick a player that impressed me the most then it would have to be Ryan Gravenberch.' Expectations Exceeded Few anticipated such a meteoric rise for the 22-year-old. Coming off a stop-start stint in the Bundesliga, there were genuine concerns around his readiness for the intensity and tactical precision required at Liverpool. But Slot clearly saw something others did not. Advertisement 'In terms of where he came from and my expectations of him, I mean who saw this coming?' Lynch added. 'That he would become one of the best holding midfielders in the league, he's a duel winner but also has the quality with his feet and the way he moves the ball.' Gravenberch's versatility has been a revelation. Operating primarily as a holding midfielder, he has been a consistent presence in Liverpool's engine room, breaking up opposition attacks and seamlessly transitioning into attacking phases. His balance of composure and aggression has been key to Liverpool's relentless pressing game and quick transitions. Key to Slot's Title-Winning System Arne Slot's first year at Anfield has been one of evolution and intensity. Taking over from Jürgen Klopp was never going to be simple, but Slot has stamped his authority with tactical clarity and a rejuvenated squad spirit. Central to that transformation has been Gravenberch, whose performances have helped redefine Liverpool's midfield identity. Advertisement His ability to shield the back four while offering creative distribution from deep has allowed more freedom for advanced players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. Gravenberch's contribution was never about flashy moments, but about consistency, intelligence and resilience. Photo: IMAGO 'It was a hugely impressive season from him – absolutely magnificent,' Lynch noted, a sentiment echoed widely across the Liverpool fanbase and beyond. Future Brimming With Promise Gravenberch's development under Slot suggests that this is just the beginning. At only 22, he already displays the maturity of a seasoned professional. His positional awareness, strength in duels and ball control suggest a ceiling far higher than many originally imagined. Advertisement 'He's only going to get better too so I can't wait to watch him again next season,' said Lynch, and it's hard to argue with that. Gravenberch is no longer just a promising talent. He is now a key pillar in a title-winning Liverpool side. As pre-season looms, Liverpool fans will be eager to see how Slot continues to refine his tactical blueprint, and there's no doubt that Gravenberch will be central to it. With Champions League football returning to Anfield and expectations sky-high, the Dutchman's role will only become more critical. For a player who arrived in the shadows of uncertainty, Ryan Gravenberch now finds himself basking in the glow of admiration. And rightly so.
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4 days ago
- Entertainment
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🎥 How awkward is that?! Crisis-hit United hold parade in Malaysia!
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. As the 15th-placed team in the Premier League, Manchester United played probably the worst season in the club's history! And the opportunity to somewhat salvage the completely botched season with a win in the Europa League final was also missed last week - the Red Devils lost 0-1 to Spurs in a dismal match! Despite everything, the club has not yet released its players for the summer break. On the contrary: The million-dollar stars are currently on a marketing tour in Asia. There, the English record champion is playing a few friendly matches, including against the national team of Hong Kong. The much more unpleasant part of the trip: United drove through the streets of Malaysia in a double-decker bus and held a kind of parade. The club anthem "Glory, Glory, Man. United" boomed from the loudspeakers. 🔥 OMG - The #MUFC Open-Top Bus Parade is underway in #Malaysia 🇲🇾Absolute scenes 🤣🤣🤣 — AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) May 28, 2025 How incredibly uncomfortable this tour was for the players can be somewhat guessed from these pictures. Even worse: The laughter of a filming passerby and the jersey of arch-rival Manchester City, which another pedestrian was wearing. No matter how much you need your summer vacation: The athletically and atmospherically humiliated players of Manchester United need it more urgently! 📸 MOHD RASFAN - AFP or licensors
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4 days ago
- Business
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Liverpool are About to Sign ‘One of the Best Young Players in the World'
Liverpool are About to Sign 'One of the Best Young Players in the World' – Journalist Liverpool's Pursuit of Florian Wirtz: A Statement of Intent In a summer already charged with emotion and optimism following Liverpool's stunning Premier League title win under Arne Slot, reports of a potential move for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz are sending ripples through the football world. Speaking on Anfield Index with Dave Davis, trusted journalist David Lynch offered insights that not only validate the rumours but suggest a signing of seismic proportions may be on the horizon. Advertisement This isn't just another transfer link. This is Liverpool moving in the market like champions. Wirtz: Europe's Hottest Young Talent Wirtz is not a name that flits quietly under the radar. At just 22, the German international has already drawn comparisons to some of the continent's best. David Lynch made it clear just how highly he rates the Leverkusen playmaker, stating: 'We're talking about one of the best young players in the world at just 22.' Those who have watched Wirtz closely during his time at Leverkusen will know that he's far from a 'prospect' — he's the finished article. 'The numbers that he puts up are unbelievable and just by watching him, he's really, really good at football.' High praise, but also accurate. Wirtz combines creativity with precision, and his movement off the ball suggests a player born to play in the final third. Advertisement What's more, he has already graced the Anfield turf this season in European competition, giving Liverpool's decision-makers a direct look at how he fits under the floodlights. Lynch added: 'He's also played at Anfield this season for Bayer Leverkusen but he looks like a player that will be more than capable of performing in the Premier League.' Arne Slot's Influence and Liverpool's New Era It cannot be overstated just how significant Liverpool's title triumph under Arne Slot has been. The Dutchman, arriving with both pressure and promise, delivered silverware at the first time of asking. His success has instantly reshaped Liverpool's pull in the transfer market. Lynch touched on a key detail that suggests Wirtz has already made his mind up: 'The reporting has been that he made his decision around mid-May, so he will have seen the celebrations against Tottenham Hotspur when Liverpool won the league.' Photo: IMAGO There's something powerful about that image. A young superstar watching a title-winning team celebrate under the Anfield lights, perhaps imagining himself there next season. It paints a picture of not just a club on the rise, but one that has returned to the very top. Record-Breaking Deal on the Cards? While figures have yet to be confirmed, Lynch didn't hold back in emphasising the magnitude of the move: 'He's absolutely the highest profile signing in Premier League history for Liverpool.' This from a club that brought in the likes of Fernando Torres, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. Advertisement If the Wirtz deal goes through, it won't simply be about adding a talented attacker. It would signify Liverpool's intent to dominate the next era of English and European football. It would be a club statement as bold as any made in recent years. His versatility also fits Arne Slot's dynamic system. Wirtz can play as a number 10, drift wide, or operate in a deeper playmaking role — a tactician's dream. His intelligence, work rate and flair feel custom-built for what Slot appears to be constructing at Liverpool. Final Thoughts: Not Just a Signing, But a Signal Credit to David Lynch for laying out the full picture on the Anfield Index podcast with clarity and conviction. This isn't hyperbole — it's grounded reporting with excitement that feels justified. Advertisement Wirtz to Liverpool is not a done deal yet, but everything about it feels right. The age, the profile, the timing. He would be a signing for the present and the future, a player capable of defining the next five years of Liverpool's ambitions. In the modern game, transfers of this scale often define clubs. If Liverpool do pull it off, it will go down not just as one of the biggest transfers of the summer, but a landmark in the club's post-Klopp evolution. This is Liverpool at their most ambitious, with Arne Slot at the helm and the footballing world watching closely.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
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Liverpool fans feast on Man Utd's embarrassing open top post-season bus parade
While Liverpool held an open-top bus parade after winning the Premier League in dominant style, its most bitter rival was embarrassed one more time, having made a fool of itself throughout the year. Manchester United finished in 15th place in the Premier League in what was a disastrous year for the club, before having to make the 16-hour flight to Malaysia just hours after the season ended. The Red Devils are holding a post-season tour in Malaysia, China and Hong Kong over the next few days, arriving at their first destination on Monday. United is holding a game against the 'ASEAN All-stars' on Wednesday, with a handful of players seen in an open-top bus being paraded through the city - similarly to how Liverpool players had been on Monday. READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Hugo Ekitike talks, Jeremie Frimpong spotted, Florian Wirtz latest READ MORE: Liverpool parade incident LIVE: man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder A video on X had shown the open-top bus play the club's 'Glory, Glory Man United' chant from what appeared to be an old stereo system, with Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt, Aydan Heaven and Patrick Dorgu in it - looking slightly embarrassed while waving at fans. One individual, who appeared to be a Liverpool fan, had been in attendance while laughing as he recorded the video, with Zirkzee awkwardly waving at him. De Ligt, Heaven and Dorgu do not acknowledge the video as they too look a little embarrassed while looking away, seemingly trying to enjoy the Malaysian weather. Fans had taken to social media to react to the video posted by AnfieldIndex on X. One Liverpool fan said: "You know what? Maybe I should be very grateful for where my club are. May we never sink this low." Another wrote: "what a time to be a Liverpool fan," while a third tweeted: "It's like they're goading their own fans with each and every single decision the club makes." In another video posted to social media, Alejandro Garnacho, Amad Diallo and the aforementioned Heaven had to ask locals to pay for their scooters - with the players seemingly being unable to unlock and ride them. OMG - The #MUFC Open-Top Bus Parade is underway in #Malaysia Absolute scenes — AnfieldIndex (@AnfieldIndex) May 28, 2025 United played a strong team in the exhibition matchup against the best players in the Malaysian league, including Rasmus Hojlund, Kobbie Mainoo, Manuel Ugarte, Casemiro, Harry Maguire and Andre Onana. That team had failed to score in the first-half before going 1-0 down in the second-half. While Liverpool has begun its summer business very quickly after winning the league, including reported moves for Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz - with Hugo Ekitike now being linked - United faces a much more uncertain summer. The Red Devils had missed out on Champions League football after losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the final, something they had needed to raise funds in order to make the necessary improvements to a roster that had come close to being relegated. The club does look to have made one strong move though, signing in Wolves star Matheus Cunha while agreeing to pay his $84 million release clause.
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4 days ago
- Entertainment
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Liverpool icon's future uncertain after cryptic interview
Liverpool Legend Hints at Exit as Slot Targets Summer Refresh Left-back Position Under Review Liverpool's title-winning campaign may have just concluded, but there is little time for sentiment. In an Interview on BBC Match of the Day, Andy Robertson, the club's stalwart left-back for eight years, has dropped a clear hint that his time at Anfield could be coming to an end. Photo IMAGO Despite lifting every major trophy since joining from Hull City, and playing 342 times for the club, Robertson now finds himself at a crossroads. At 31 and with just one year left on his current contract, he is no longer an automatic starter under new head coach Arne Slot. Kerkez Pursuit Suggests Change Slot, alongside sporting director Richard Hughes, is planning a reshape of the squad, and left-back is one of the key positions under scrutiny. Milos Kerkez, the Hungarian full-back who worked under Hughes at Bournemouth, is high on Liverpool's shortlist. Photo: IMAGO Initially, Kostas Tsimikas was seen as the likely casualty to accommodate a new arrival. However, with Robertson's recent admission, that equation may be shifting. 'Obviously, the club are going to have a busy summer, so we need to see where everyone stands,' Robertson told Match of the Day. 'But it's been a special time here, I loved my time here.' Emotional Reflections, Tactical Decisions It is the tone of Robertson's comments that speaks volumes. 'Eight special years,' he said. 'I've cherished every moment I've played in front of these fans.' For a player not prone to theatricality, these are unusually sentimental remarks. Photo: IMAGO While the club has been built on legacy and loyalty, Slot's task is to look forward, not back. With Robertson's output dipping and injury absences increasing, the conversation about succession has shifted from theoretical to necessary. Advertisement Whether his next move is a fairytale return to boyhood club Celtic or a new challenge altogether, Liverpool fans may have witnessed the last of Robertson at Anfield in red. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis For Liverpool supporters, this stings. Not because it's unexpected, but because it's Robertson. A player who embodied everything about Klopp's high-octane, heavy-metal football. A bargain at £8 million who grew into one of the best left-backs in world football. To hear him speak in such reflective tones—'I loved my time here'—feels like the last page of a beloved chapter. Yes, there are logical reasons for change. His form has dipped, injuries have crept in, and at 31, he's no longer the guaranteed option he once was. Advertisement But letting Robertson go isn't just about tactics or finances—it's emotional. He's part of the club's fabric, one of the final links to a golden era. The thought of him departing while still capable of contributing leaves fans torn between sentiment and progress. If this is the end, fans will understand—but it doesn't mean they'll like it. They'll hope, at the very least, that his next steps bring him the respect and minutes he deserves. Celtic would be a fitting swansong.
