Ryan Gravenberch was utilised at right-back in the second half of Tuesday's 4-3 win over Villarreal

Andoni Iraola has praised the versatility of Ryan Gravenberch ahead of the Liverpool midfielder's return to Premier League action against Brighton on Sunday.

And the Reds' boss says Gravenberch's willingness to play several positions is a huge help at a time when injuries are clamping down on a squad navigating a nine-fixture sequence across a 29-day period.

Netherlands international Gravenberch sat out the 2-1 win at Brentford last week through suspension but returned in a more advanced role on Tuesday night as the Reds beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League.

Gravenberch, who is in line for a recall against Brighton on Sunday afternoon, played the second half of that game in an unfamiliar full-back role with Jeremie Frimpong and Conor Bradley sidelined. While Iraola says he prefers his midfielder in the No.8 position, the head coach talked up his ability to perform across several roles.

Make sure you never miss the latest Liverpool FC news and opinion by making Liverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.

"I think if you ask me what is the position he thinks suits him best, I think he is a No.8, for me," Iraola said.

"But he is a player that can do a job as a No.6, we have seen it and he won the Premier League playing there.

"I think he can do a job playing as a right-back, like the other night. His versatility is probably going to cost him but I think as a No.10 I think he can do a job.

"We haven't tried it ourselves but he has also played last season at centre-back, in certain moments, he can do a job.

"So for me he is very valuable. This versatility in the players is very valuable because in this schedule we have, we are going to need help, somewhere.

"Because now it is in the right-back position where we have lost Frimpong and obviously we have the situation with Conor Bradley.

"But in three months, it could be in another position, so to have players like Ryan, someone who I am comfortable playing two or three defensive positions, for me is a big help."

On Alexis Mac Allister, who is expected to partner Gravenberch in midfield on Sunday against his former club, Iraola added: "I think he is another of the leaders we have.

"He has experience. He is not as old but he has been involved in top-level games, has won titles for club and country and he has been really good.

"He arrived [after the World Cup final] with Victor Munoz but Victor arrived a little bit earlier than him but after two or three weeks, he went into a great run of form and I think he is performing consistently well. "Sometimes you play well, other times not so much but I think Alexis is in a place where he has consistently been playing well. and I hope he can stay there because that is going to ne easier for us, yes."