Ryan Gravenberch credits Jurgen Klopp for helping him rediscover confidence at Liverpool - 'I'm enjoying football again'

Ryan Gravenberch has explained how Jurgen Klopp has helped him rediscover his confidence and “enjoy football again” since his summer move to Liverpool.

The 21-year-old joined the Anfield club in the summer after a difficult 2022-23 campaign with Bayern Munich, where he made just five starts all season.

He has already almost doubled that amount under Klopp, starting nine times in all competitions and scoring twice in the UEFA Europa League.

Gravenberch paid tribute to his manager and remembered being struck by the German as early as their first conversation.

“When I spoke to him, he gave me a warm feeling, like a family, you know? That’s what I missed. I’m very happy he gave me that feeling,” Gravenberch told TNT Sports in an exclusive interview.

“I’ve a good connection with the coach,” he added. “When he has something to say to me about the game, or something else, we just talk with each other. I have a good connection with him.

“He just gives me confidence, to give me minutes on the pitch again.

“He just told me: ‘enjoy the game again.’ And that’s what I did. With the minutes, the confidence came back.”

Asked if a return of confidence depended just on game time, Gravenberch said: “For me, yes. Of course, you have to play well, but if you get minutes and do your own thing, what you’re good at, then of course it will come back.”

The youngster rose to prominence at Ajax, where he made his senior debut aged just 16 and won three Eredivisie titles between 2018 and 2022.

Gravenberch was named Eredivisie talent of the Year in 2020-21 and was asked about what Liverpool’s Dutch coach Pep Lijnders meant when he said the Ajax Gravenberch was coming back.

“The Gravenberch from Ajax is just the Gravenberch who is enjoying football again, making actions, good passes, everything,” he said.

“He’s just enjoying football again like he did at Ajax.”

TNT Sports will show live coverage of Liverpool's Premier League trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday, December 9.

That is one of two Liverpool games that will be aired in the space of a few days, as the Reds' match away to Union Saint-Gilloise is also live on TNT Sports on Thursday, December 14.

TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool will be live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate with coverage from 11:00 on Saturday, December 9 ahead of kick-off at 12:30.

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