For Liverpool fans, the main themes and feelings coming out of Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal that saw the Reds outplay the defending champions while being denied what should have been the equalizer due to catastrophically poor officiating were disappointment and a sense of injustice.
Lost in that, though, was at least one thing worth celebrating. Namely, a first start in the Premier League for young midfielder Trey Nyoni, who has been racking up solid minutes for new manager Andoni Iraola this season—but
with most of them before Sunday coming off the bench or in the cups.
“Obviously I was excited,” Nyoni told the club’s official website after the match. “I just tried to go out there and do what I do, tried to get on the ball as much as possible and bring the team forwards. Obviously I’m happy but we still wanted to win, which is the most important thing.
“The manager is allowing me to develop. A game like this was a big responsibility so I had to be ready. You always learn a lot from playing games. Ultimately, that’s where you want to be. It has been a positive week [personally] but we’ve got the game on Wednesday now we need to try to win.”
With Liverpool heading into the season thin in midfield, Nyoni was always likely to get chances—but even then, the role he’s earned and the faith Iraola increasingly seems to have in him has been a pleasant surprise. Against Arsenal, it’s even probably fair to say the Reds looked best with him on the pitch.
What role he’ll have in the next two, with Fenerbahce on Wednesday before the Reds take on Crystal Palace on Sunday before hitting pause on the club season the November international break, is anyone’s guess but it seems certain his appearance tally will only grow in the coming weeks.
