Ryan Gravenberch issues response to Ronald Koeman's 'lazy' jibe after international return

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has responded to the accusation of "laziness" leveled at him by Dutch national team boss Ronald Koeman with a typically relaxed reaction to the criticism.

"It’s not nonsense; everyone has their own opinion," the Reds ace told De Telegraaf . "People say about me that I’m a bit nonchalant. That’s just in me. Now I have that nonchalance too, but people don’t really talk about it, because things are going well at Liverpool ."

A few days ago, Koeman had given Gravenberch a backhanded compliment after his exceptional start to the new season under Arne Slot . Signed for $44m (£34m/€40m) from Bayern Munich last summer, he has come alive against Ipswich Town , Brentford and Manchester United .

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"He played well," Koeman said. "It is clear that he has made a step. He is getting the chance and he is taking it with both hands. It may be a bit of confidence that he is getting.

"He started earlier than some other internationals. Maybe the penny will drop now. We have always seen a lot of potential in Ryan. A lot of people thought, including me, that a bit of concentration, the laziness, could be improved in him."

Dutch pundit Rafael van der Vaart has also praised Gravenberch for his start to the season with Liverpool. The former Netherlands players are known for their criticism of the current national team but he couldn't find fault with the 21-year-old.

"I once said that he is better than Jude Bellingham , and I was rightly laughed at," Van der Vaart told Studio Voetbal . "But I have to be honest and say that he is now showing things that make me think; ‘finally!' It’s because he has a coach who has confidence in him and who simply puts him in the field."

Liverpool.com says: Gravenberch has started the season brilliantly and he was anything but nonchalant during the game at Old Trafford, snapping into tackles and interceptions and showing plenty of aggression. He needs to keep it up but it has been a superb start to life under Slot.