Gravenberch urges Liverpool to keep pushing in Champions League race

Ryan Gravenberch was clear in his message after another damaging afternoon for Liverpool, insisting the squad must “keep pushing” as the fight for Champions League qualification tightens. Defeat leaves Liverpool four points behind Chelsea in fifth and five adrift of fourth placed Manchester United, margins that feel slender yet unforgiving as the season enters its defining stretch.

“We have to start winning games,” Gravenberch said, reflecting on Liverpool’s position and the challenge ahead. “I’m confident. It’s a difficult position but I’m not really concerned because I know the quality we have, but we will see. We have to keep pushing still.”

Momentum swings at Anfield

Sunday’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City was shaped by sharp momentum shifts. Liverpool trailed for long periods before exploding into life late on, going 1-0 ahead through a breathtaking free kick from Dominik Szoboszlai with 16 minutes remaining. Anfield responded instantly, sensing a statement moment.

That belief proved fleeting. City levelled through Bernardo Silva before Erling Haaland converted a stoppage time penalty, a brutal conclusion for a Liverpool side that had finally found control. Szoboszlai’s afternoon ended in frustration too, shown a straight red card for the denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity in the dramatic closing stages.

Gravenberch reflects on performance

Gravenberch felt Liverpool merited more. “Disappointed, we deserved more, I think, in the second half because we played a good game. But overall, disappointed that we have not got the points.”

He pointed to the spell after the opener as evidence of Liverpool’s capability. “We were good in the game [after Szoboszlai’s goal]. We had a good momentum. The fans were with us, we had the power, and at the end, we concede a goal.”

Keep pushing remains the message

There was honesty too about a sluggish opening. “I think the first half we didn’t have a good start, but then we went in the dressing room and said to each other, ‘We go out and give our all,’ and that’s what we did, so hopefully we can get that more [than in] the games that we have had.”

For Gravenberch and Liverpool, the task is simple to state and harder to execute. Keep pushing, convert promise into points, and ensure belief lasts longer than moments.