Ryan Gravenberch names two Liverpool players he approached for advice over new No.6 role

Ryan Gravenberch has revealed . The midfielder has been used as a deep-lying midfielder this season having broken through at Ajax as a more attack-minded player.

turned to the 22-year-old Dutchman after missed out on principal summer transfer target Martin Zubimendi. Slot wanted Zubimendi to anchor the Reds' midfield but the Spaniard turned down a move to Anfield in favor of remaining at Real Sociedad.

Liverpool's ultimate failure to sign a new midfielder during the transfer window prompted frustration from many Reds fans, but that frustration has since made way for excitement at the way Gravenberch has adapted to his new position, and the player himself said that advice from two of his teammates has helped him to thrive in the role.

He told : “It feels good but to be honest I have to adapt more because I’m not a natural defending No 6. First [at the start of his career] I was like a more attacking midfielder, so for myself I have to adapt more. I think the first games were really good but I have to keep improving. We have a lot of possession and I have a lot of the ball and that is what I wanted, so it feels good, it feels comfortable.

“I spoke to Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] because obviously last season he played a lot there and also [Wataru] Endo about what they used to do, anticipating where the ball can come, just some little chats.”

On how Slot pitched the new role to him, Gravenberch said: “After the Euros he called me and he said he wants to give me a chance and then he said: ‘I want you to focus on the No 8 position but I also want to see you in the No 6 position’. My first reaction was really good because as a player it doesn’t really matter where you play as long as you can play. When I played at Ajax I also played this role, but not a lot, so I knew a little bit of what I had to do.”

Gravenberch has started in each of Liverpool's seven Premier League games so far under Slot having lined up just 12 times under Jurgen Klopp last season, and he is enjoying his football under the Reds' new boss.

“I think in football terms under Klopp we played more directly and we did a lot of counter-pressing as well,” Gravenberch said. “I think we did it really well but I think with this manager it is a bit more about good positioning, being able to kill the opponents with passes and play out from the back.”