Over the past week, young midfielder Trey Nyoni has been Liverpool’s best and most consistent performer. Which feels both something of a positive and a negative.
Positive in that it’s very much nice to see a promising youngster look like he’s coming good and that it gives manager Andoni Iraola another option. Negative in that if your 19-year-old who has played less than 700 senior career minutes is your standout, it means an awful lot of more experienced players either aren’t available or simply aren’t performing.
At the moment, it appears to be a little bit of both for the Reds. Which isn’t ideal. But at least Nyoni is showing his capacity to step up, play more regular minutes, and be a difference maker for the club.
“In the first half and second half we started off well, but the next step for us as a team is to try to be more consistent over 90 minutes,” he reflected following Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat at Fenerbahce that saw them go ahead twice only to almost immediately take their foot off the gas and concede equalizers—and then the winner.
“We’re disappointed. It’s another lesson that we need to build on, but the mentality of the team is top. Obviously the last game and this game were setbacks, but a good team bounces back and on Sunday we have to be better than we were today. If we do that I think we’ll be able to win.”
A tough 1-0 defeat against Arsenal over the weekend that saw Liverpool’s chances undermined by a notable officiating error and then Wednesday’s too often lethargic response are certainly setbacks. Yet even in those setbacks there were bright spots.
Against Arsenal, Liverpool were on balance the better side, deserved more from the match, and would have got that with competent officiating. Against Fenerbahce, when they ratcheted up the intensity they dominated—and scored goals.
And also, in both matches Trey Nyoni was excellent and against Fenerbahce he scored his first senior goal.
“I’m proud,” the 19-year-old said of opening his account with the Reds. “I know my family back home are proud. It’s been a long time coming but obviously happy to score and get my first goal for Liverpool, and it’s a day that I’ll never forget—even though we lost, it’s a day I’ll never forget.”
