Trey Nyoni in “a difficult space” and must ‘manage first-team expectations’

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Liverpool U21s coach Rob Page has admitted that Trey Nyoni is “in a difficult space right now” but thinks “there’s a talented, talented footballer in there.” One of Liverpool’s most exciting youngsters, Arne Slot took to Nyoni immediately after arriving last summer, taking him on the pre-season tour and playing him five times last season. Coach Page said: “I think that’s a fair assessment (that he wasn’t at his best against Madrid).

“He’s in a difficult space right now and it’s about keeping him confident, managing his expectations of his involvement with the first team, but it is a difficult space for those young players.” Captaining the under-19s against Madrid, Nyoni dropped down from the first team with whom he trains to feature at the academy. “He’s had involvement with the first team from an early age and [the challenge] is managing his minutes, it’s giving him game time but it’s maintaining the standards that he sets as well.

“And I think if you ask him, he’s probably fallen a little bit below that today for whatever reason, but we’ll get him back on track and there’s a talented, talented footballer in there.” Nyoni joined from Leicester as a 16-year-old and quickly caught the eye of Jurgen Klopp, the German awarding the youngster his debut from the bench in the Reds’ 3-0 FA Cup win over Southampton, memorable for goals from Lewis Koumas and Jayden Danns. While his lack of consistent minutes may be hampering his progress currently, there is no doubting Nyoni’s potential as a player.