“Steve Nicol slams Ryan Gravenberch after another quiet display against Nottingham Forest”

Former Liverpool defender Steve Nicol has voiced concerns over Ryan Gravenberch’s recent performances, suggesting the Dutch midfielder has largely avoided the scrutiny faced by his teammates amid the club’s troubling slump.

Liverpool’s 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest marked their sixth Premier League defeat in seven games, intensifying pressure on manager Arne Slot after the early-season title contenders suffered a significant dip in form.

Nicol argues that, despite being one of Liverpool’s standout players last season, Gravenberch has not been fulfilling his role this year.

He commented: “There’s one player who seems to have escaped criticism so far… Gravenberch. Last year, after Salah and perhaps Van Dijk, he was maybe Liverpool’s best player. He positioned himself well, made smart decisions, and sparked attacks.

“His primary responsibility is to shield the back four, direct the midfield, allow teammates to advance, and cover gaps when needed. He hasn’t done any of that this season. Even considering he missed a few games, he’s contributed very little. As brilliant as he was last year, Gravenberch has completely vanished again.”

Wayne Rooney also weighed in on Liverpool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest, saying the team appeared to have no answers.