So far this season, as in 2024/25, things are going pretty well for Arne Slot and his Liverpool side.
Played five in the Premier League and won five is a perfect record that already sees them five points ahead of their nearest pursuers, and if the Reds are able to replicate anything like the form they showed in the previous campaign, they'll take some stopping.
Liverpool carrying on where they left off in 2024/25
Of course, it's far too early to make any title predictions, but what is clear is that not only have the Merseysiders begun 2025/26 where they left off, but have significantly improved in many areas.
That in itself should be a scary prospect for those pretenders to their throne.
Much of the transfer chatter across the summer centred around Alexander Isak and the will-he-won't-he sign saga, as well as the capture of one of the Bundesliga's best players in Florian Wirtz.
Add in Hugo Ekitike, who has already shown his worth to this Liverpool side, and some brilliant attacking full-backs in Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, and it's no wonder the Anfield faithful were excited.
Not to mention the renewals of Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah that put to bed any notion about either player moving on.
Gravenberch has become a vital cog in Reds machine
Notwithstanding the importance of tying down all of the aforementioned players, one in particular has arguably been the glue that has knitted everything together: Ryan Gravenberch.
The Dutchman was signed from Bayern Munich by Jurgen Klopp on the final day of the 2023 summer transfer window, but it's fair to say he was used sporadically in the Premier League during 2023/24.
Although the records will show he made 26 appearances that season, only 12 of them were as a starter, and his total top-flight minutes of 1120 are effectively only just over 12 full matches.
Once countryman Slot took over in the dugout, things changed for the better, and Gravenberch started all 37 league games he took part in during 2024/25.
It became quickly apparent to everyone why the then 22-year-old needed to become the linchpin of Liverpool's midfield.
A physical and yet elegant player, Gravenberch seamlessly flitted from putting his foot in to break up an opposition attack one minute to using his speed and athleticism to ease through the gears and either set up chances or open up the passing lanes for his teammates.
Composed and physical
The way in which he would receive passes on the half-turn and then force opponents onto the back foot because of his speed over short distances became a feature of Liverpool's play, and an 89.5% passing accuracy despite working in the most congested areas of the pitch deserved the acclaim that Gravenberch eventually received.
His composure on the ball, even when under the severest pressure, was reminiscent of Barcelona's Sergio Busquets in his pomp, and then - as now - it was rare to see him waste a pass.
Defensively, he was and is no slouch either, winning possession back on 408 occasions in all competitions to date.
A player who loves a one-on-one challenge too, Gravenberch's success in this regard has never dipped below 50%, and neither has his tackling success rate.
With 110 interceptions and 88 clearances also made during his time at the club, it's clear that he can also be something of a disruptor when there's a need for it.
A modern great
Former Liverpool frontman, Michael Owen, is one of many to be enthralled by Gravenberch's performances.
"I look around the world at the moment at midfield players and I think who is better than him? Who is performing better than him? I don't see many at all. I think he's one of the finds of the last season or so."
It's the Dutchman's mix of technical ability and understanding of the physical aspects, all whilst consistently looking to aggressively press the opposition, that marks him out as a modern great.
Is it any wonder then that there's a strong belief that Liverpool are about to offer him a bumper new pay deal?
New contract set to be offered
At present, it's understood he earns in the region of £150,000 per week on a contract due to run until June 2028, and whilst there's clearly no urgency to agree anything new, the notion of making him one of the better-paid players in the squad would evidence his importance to the club.
Even at this early stage in his Liverpool career, Gravenberch is looking like a £35m bargain and if he can remain free of injuries for the most part, will be the centrepiece of Arne Slot's potentially all-conquering side.
With the best years of his career still well ahead of him, too, there's no ceiling to what he could achieve with the club.
