Ryan Gravenberch has explained why it was a straightforward decision to take the No.38 shirt at Liverpool, given its special meaning to him.
The Netherlands midfielder made the move to Anfield last month from Bayern Munich and has featured seven times under Jürgen Klopp so far, providing two assists and one goal.
Gravenberch recently sat down with Sky Sports to answer questions from fans in an ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q&A – see some of the highlights from the chat below…
On players he modelled his game on while growing up…
When I was young I looked up to the bigger players like Messi and Ronaldo. When I became older, like 17, 18, I was looking at video clips of Zinedine Zidane. If I have to choose a player it will be Zinedine Zidane.
On how he is finding the Scouse accent…
If I’m honest, when they speak sometimes I say like, ‘Huh?!’ I have to think, think, think and then I understand it! Maybe in a couple of weeks I will get used to it. And my Scouse accent? It’s OK. Maybe if I’m longer here I will speak it.
On whether anyone has surprised him in training so far and how…
I think it was Dom Szoboszlai, because this guy’s shot… it’s crazy. His shot also in training, sometimes we shoot after the training and it’s like one, two, three, all go in and like crazy things. So I think it’s Dom with his shot.
On his favourite former Liverpool player…
I’d go for Steven Gerrard. But also, I played with him at Bayern, Sadio Mane. I think I have a few.
On why he chose the No.38 for the Reds…
My decision for 38 was because I made my debut in Ajax with 38. When I went to Bayern I chose also 38 because I have something special with that number because I made my debut [with it]. I think I will keep wearing 38 for, I think, all my life.
On the funniest player in the squad…
I think I’ll go for Robbo. He makes a lot of jokes!
On his favourite music to listen to before a big game…
One thing Liverpool is always doing is a song [Run This Town] before the game. When I saw that against West Ham, I was on the bench but I felt something in me like, wow, from this I get such a good feeling to go on the pitch and want to win the game. So not maybe the favourite music but I go for that song, you know.
