PreviewRyan Gravenberch: We'll need to show our mentality again
Liverpool will aim to show their mentality against Newcastle United once more on Monday night, explained Ryan Gravenberch.
The Reds claimed three points in their away meeting with the Magpies earlier this season in a memorable display of determination and quality from Jürgen Klopp’s side.
Trailing 1-0 at St. James’ Park and reduced to 10 men after a red card to Virgil van Dijk, the visitors scored twice through Darwin Nunez late on to grab victory.
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Watch on YouTubeThey clash again on New Year’s Day, with Gravenberch anticipating another tough test to overcome in the 8pm GMT kick-off at Anfield.
“I think every game here is a big test,” the midfielder told Liverpoolfc.com at the AXA Training Centre during a preview to the encounter.
“Especially now, we are first in the league so there’s a little bit more pressure. Newcastle are a very good team so we have to prepare well and show them what we’re capable of.”
On what Liverpool need to do to get the points, Gravenberch continued: “I think what we are doing now, showing [like] when we played them away, even with one man less, showing the mentality.
“I think that’s what we have show them now again; that we are there, that we go forward [and are] pushing.”
The No.38 was in the starting line-up when Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League on Boxing Day with a 2-0 defeat of Burnley.
And summer signing Gravenberch is enjoying his first experience of the Christmas fixture schedule in English football – with the game at Turf Moor the Reds’ fifth in 13 days.
“It’s really great,” he said. “It’s different from where I came from but it’s nice to play football also during the Christmas and New Year time.”
That victory over Burnley saw the Reds establish a two-point lead at the summit of the division at the exact halfway mark of the campaign.
So, what is the mindset and ambition heading in to the second phase of the season?
“We as a team, as a club, always go game by game. I think that’s the most important [thing],” said Gravenberch.
“The first half of the Premier League was good. It was intensive. I think it’s the biggest league in the world now and you see that by the intensity they are giving here.
“For the second half of the league, as a team we want to keep on going and keep on going. At the end, we want to win it.”