Andoni Iraola would have learned a lot from Liverpool’s win over Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

It could be argued that if certain personnel, such as Dominik Szoboszlai, weren’t injured, then Iraola would have played a stronger XI.

But the Liverpool boss still decided to start with Alexis Mac Allister and Trey Nyoni sitting in front of the defence, with Ryan Gravenberch ahead of them.

However, speaking to Liverpool’s official podcast, Jay Spearing thinks that Gravenberch playing as a ten ‘didn’t quite understand’ what to do or where to be.

Ryan Gravenberch’s number ten role questioned despite Liverpool beating Villarreal

Even the most ardent of Liverpool supporters understand that the team still isn’t quite right, and as mentioned above, injuries haven’t helped Iraola’s cause in that sense.

But there are still many senior faces on the pitch, not forgetting that youngster Rio Ngumoha is stealing the show, so they have no excuses.

That includes Gravenberch, who, according to Spearing, played like someone who has never played that number ten role before.

Spearing identified the Dutch international as playing like somebody who was ‘learning’ the role, hence why he was out of position at times.

“Yeah, potentially. You know, Ryan Gravenberch playing as a 10,” said Spearing. “I’ve not seen him play there before.

“It was a bit of a new one for me. So it was maybe he was learning the role. I have to do a little bit of digging to see if he has done that before.

“But he did see him at times, like he was a little bit out of position and didn’t quite understand what it was.

“Then, like you say, the flexibility of using Trey (Nyoni) and Mac Allister has appeared. That’s a new partnership growing, you know, being together as partners to understand each other’s way of playing.”

Gravenberch stats for Liverpool against Villarreal

Gravenberch played the entire game, earning himself a rating of 6/10 by Rousing the Kop, and exactly 6.6 by Sofascore.

What’s interesting is that the Netherlands international has been rated 6.5-6.9 by Sofascore for every game from the League Cup win over Tottenham in September.

Nonetheless, this is how Gravenberch’s numbers read on paper as Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3:

• Minutes played: 90
• Total shots: 2
• Accurate passes: 33/35 (94%)
• Accurate passes in the opposition half: 18/20 (90%)
• Touches: 57
• Successful dribbles: 1
• Progressive carries: 1
• Tackles won: 0/2
• Clearances: 1
• Blocked shots: 1
• Recoveries: 4
• Ground duels won: 4
• Aerial duels won: 0/3
• Fouls: 2