Arne Slot confirms the four highest rated youngsters at Liverpool with new official squad photo - opinion
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Arne Slot has not made a consistent habit of picking youngsters from the Liverpool academy to feature in the first team squad.The Dutch coach had been expected to follow in Jurgen Klopp’s footsteps by regularly dipping into the youth teams for the best young talent.However, although Slot does not really come close to Klopp in this respect, he has still given chances to certain Liverpool prospects.Rio Ngumoha is one of the most exciting talents to emerge at Anfield in recent memory and, to his credit, Slot is giving him his chances.The Liverpool head coach has also been effusive in his praise of midfielder Trey Nyoni, who played 90 minutes of the Reds’ Carabao Cup win over Southampton last midweek.While it is clear that Ngumoha and Nyoni are now fully-fledged members of the Liverpool first team, Slot appears to have confirmed how highly he rates two more young players with the release of the Reds’ official squad photo for 2025/26.Photo by Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty ImagesArmin Pecsi and Stefan Bajcetic included in squad photographAlthough Ngumoha and Nyoni may be the pick of the bunch, they are not the only young players hoping for a chance in the senior side this term.Jayden Danns has already made an appearance from the bench, for example, and the striker looked impressive against Southampton last week.READ MORE: Tyler Morton likened to Casemiro after scoring first goal since leaving LiverpoolDanns is not included in the new group photo, however, with the 19-year-old seemingly not yet considered a full-time member of the team.Interestingly, 20-year-old goalkeeper Armin Pecsi is included, despite the three senior goalkeepers all being featured as well. Plenty is expected of Pecsi after his arrival from the Puskas Academy this summer and his inclusion is a small hint from Slot how highly he is rated within Anfield.The other notable face in the photograph is Stefan Bajcetic, who has become something of a forgotten man recently.Bajcetic is yet to play for Liverpool under Slot, but the fact that he is featured here suggests that once he is back up to speed, he will see game time for the Reds.
Which other youngsters are in the frame?There is of course one other teenager present in the Liverpool squad photo on Monday, with Giovanni Leoni featured as well.Leoni was brought in as a senior player, however, and will likely play no further part this season after sustaining a serious knee injury.In regards to the official squad, it is hard to argue that any other Liverpool youngsters could have expected to feature in the picture.The closest to doing so is possibly Kieran Morrison, who was once again on the bench for the first team against Southampton last week.Morrison was also seen in training in the lead-up to the Crystal Palace match, and may feel he is in with a shout of a debut in the coming months.