Hargreaves: Liverpool won't win league without making one key addition

Arne Slot has made a strong start as Liverpool manager.

His Reds side sit top of the Premier League table after winning five of their first six fixtures.

Liverpool also got off to a good start in Europe by beating AC Milan 3-1 in Italy in the first round of Champions League matches.

However, former Manchester United and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves reckons Liverpool are unlikely to win either of those competitions unless they make one key addition.

Hargreaves believes that Slot is currently missing a holding midfield player, after Liverpool sold Jordan Henderson and Fabinho in recent years.

Ryan Gravenberch has played as Liverpool's most defence-minded midfielder so far this season, but Hargreaves is not convinced that the Dutchman is good enough to play that role against elite opposition.

Speaking to Premier League Productions, Hargreaves said: 'He has done brilliantly well, but he is not a defensive midfield player, which is fine when you are playing teams like this which you will beat.

'He is 190cm. He is 22 years old. He has got everything. But he is not a specialist defensive midfield player. There is a difference.

'I think he is a brilliant midfield player, he is a box-to-box [player], depending on who you play. But I think in a big game, in a one-off game, to go and win the Premier League or the Champions League, I think you need a specialist. Liverpool showed that with Fabinho or Manchester City showed that with Rodri.

'I still think they will address his position. But credit Gravenberch, he has grabbed his chance and that's all you need.

'That's what you need as a player, you need someone to trust you and he has proven it. I still think tougher tests will come. I love what he is doing, but I still think they will go and get somebody.' 

Gravenberch was one of Liverpool's best players during Saturday's 2-1 win at Wolves.

He made three tackles, won four free-kicks and completed 92 per cent of his 62 passes.