Ryan Gravenberch

Gravenberch receives the ball facing his own goal under pressure and still finds a way to turn and drive forward, using his long stride to escape a crowded area that would trap a smaller player. He carries the ball rather than recycling it sideways, covering ground quickly enough to turn a defensive situation into an attacking one within a few strides. That ability to progress the ball from deep is rare in a player his size.

Gravenberch played a more advanced role earlier in his career before Liverpool asked him to sit deeper and control matches from further back, a switch that took real adjustment. The move has worked because his passing range and composure under pressure translate just as well from deep as they did higher up. Watch how he copes against a team that presses aggressively high, because that remains the toughest test for a deep midfielder.