As Liverpool’s jubilant players celebrated Carabao Cup success with a chorus of You’ll Never Walk Alone in front of their supporters, a shy figure wearing the No98 jersey, and with a winner’s medal dangling round his neck, stood at the end of the line trying to take everything in.
Trey Nyoni did not step off the substitutes’ bench at Wembley in February when Jürgen Klopp’s kids helped overcome Chelsea, but that he was there at all spoke volumes.
Even allowing for an injury crisis that forced players such as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Núñez and Dominik Szoboszlai onto the sidelines, the presence of the then 16-year-old midfielder served as a reflection of the faith Liverpool had in his talent.
Slot, right, says he is “taking good care of” Nyoni, who signed from Leicester City a year ago
ANDREW POWELL / GETTY
It is fitting then that when the club’s defence of the cup continues against Southampton tonight, there is the possibility of Nyoni being handed his full debut and taking another step in his development.
“We are taking good care of him and we are aware of him,” said Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot earlier this season. “He only just became 17 and that’s probably also the reason why people see him as such a talent, because he has already shown some interesting things at his age.”
Looking back on that day nine months ago in the capital when Virgil van Dijk’s header sealed a 1-0 extra-time victory, it is instructive to see what has followed the giddy high of that afternoon.
Of the youngsters who were involved, Jarell Quansah should also start at St Mary’s, Jayden Danns and James McConnell are back in the fold after injury, but Conor Bradley is sidelined. Bobby Clark has since moved to RB Salzburg and Lewis Koumas, another unused substitute at the national stadium, is on loan at Stoke City.
Nyoni’s only Liverpool appearances to date have come in the League Cup and FA Cup
NICK TAYLOR / GETTY
Meanwhile, Nyoni has worked his way up the pecking order with his excellent technique and ability to glide beyond opponents catching the eye.
He was signed in September last year from Leicester City — where younger brother, Reece, remains part of the academy — though how much Liverpool will pay for the England youth international is still to be decided by an independent tribunal.
Nyoni, who is living in digs, saw an opportunity and a pathway at Anfield and a first-team debut came three days after Wembley, when he came on against Southampton in an FA Cup tie. He then played 26 minutes as a substitute in the win over Brighton & Hove Albion in the last round.
More often than not he trains with the first team, learning from players such as Alexis Mac Allister, but Slot is eager for him to have game time.
When he captained Liverpool Under-19 in their Uefa Youth League draw with AC Milan, his reputation perhaps preceded him with the Italians quick to deny him time on the ball. That is something to which he must adapt.
Koumas, left, and Nyoni both missed out on playing in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, but Danns, centre, came on in the 87th minute
JOE PRIOR / GETTY
“I think what you say is true, he is a young player — really young, but with a lot of talent,” Slot said. “He had some impact in pre-season and when he played against Seville he even scored a goal.
“So, a talent but only being a talent is not enough to play on a regular basis for the first team, so we need to keep developing him. He needs playing time to develop and that’s why sometimes as a manager you feel like, ‘We might need him with the first team, but it’s so, so important for him to keep playing his games.’
“That’s why he played in Milan also with the under-19s, because for him to develop he needs to train with us and he needs to keep having his playing time at the highest possible level.
“Training with the likes of all the midfielders and players we have helps him to develop as well.”
Slot’s team selection will be interesting as he has only four recognised defenders and will want to rest some players. The left back James Norris, 21, and the centre back Amara Nallo, 18, will be considered, while Wataru Endo, Tyler Morton and Harvey Elliott should start.
Nyoni will also hope to be in the thoughts of the head coach and that he can take the chance to help Liverpool retrace their footsteps back to Wembley.
