Right from the get-go, there have been claims from some corners of the football world that Arne Slot’s Liverpool have what it takes to lift the Premier League title come May.
Of course, the Reds were written off before a ball had been kicked, Jurgen Klopp having stood down from his long-held position, but each passing month has buttressed the title charge. Now, in February, Liverpool are 13 points clear at the top of the league ladder.
On Wednesday, Newcastle United were brushed aside at Anfield in a prequel to next month’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Promising stuff. The Champions League also suggests a treble is on the cards, with Paris Saint-Germain awaiting in the last 16.
Might Slot be riding on his predecessor’s coattails? The Dutch boss, after all, has scarcely put an external stamp on the club transfer-wise.
Mohamed Salah’s playing like a Ballon d’Or winner; Virgil van Dijk is a rousing leader, a monstrous defender. Liverpool also boast one of the game’s distinguished creative stars in Trent Alexander-Arnold, and all three are currently scheduled to leave at the end of the season, contracts at an end.
Despite these potential fault lines, Slot is no one-season wonder.
Why Slot isn’t a one-season wonder
The general consensus, such as it is, suggests Trent is Real Madrid-bound but Van Dijk and Salah will extend their bumper deals and see out the final years of their prime at Anfield.
To lose one of the club’s prized triumvirate is a blow – with homegrown star Alexander-Arnold leaving on a free transfer aged 26 only adding insult to injury.
However, Liverpool are primed for many years of success, with a strong and balanced squad that is supported by a rich intake of academy potential, some of whom are touted for top-level success.
Moreover, the fact that Federico Chiesa remains the only first-team signing since Klopp finished off a 2023 rebuild with the signing of Ryan Gravenberch points toward a sustainable, enviable financial position. FSG are ready to spend this summer, upgrade on the likes of Darwin Nunez and add competition at left-back for Andy Robertson.
The youthful cast will merge with thought-out transfer additions, and while the likes of Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley are among the brightest emerging talents at Liverpool, they could all be trumped by one prodigious teenager.
Liverpool’s most exciting talent
Liverpool haven’t always had the most consistent of production lines, with Trent and Curtis Jones the only real modern breakthroughs before the new wave over the past several years.
Of course, Anthony Gordon could have been part of the movement, but the boyhood Red was released when he was just 11 years old, going on to make his name at Everton before signing for Newcastle in a deal worth £45m in January 2023.
Now though, there’s a new kid on the block with a weight of expectation circling his name – and he’s not yet reached his 18th year.
Trey Nyoni has gone from strength to strength since joining Liverpool from Leicester City as a 16-year-old in 2023, fast-tracked by academy bosses and earning his professional debut in the FA Cup fifth round against Southampton last term.
The youngster would then catch Slot’s eye during pre-season, featuring against Arsenal, Real Betis and Manchester United and scoring against Sevilla at Anfield before the Premier League season commenced.
Described as a “star in the making” by youth scout Antonio Mango, this dynamic midfielder may well be the cream of a rich and plentiful crop, perhaps even proving to be Slot’s own version of former Reds youth prospect Gordon.
Nyoni could be Slot’s own Anthony Gordon
With a rangy, slender build and an impressive degee of skill, the “special” Nyoni – as has been said by BBC analyst Raj Chohan – has the world at his feet, and could go all the way if he keeps his head down, absorbs the fruits of his senior peers’ labours and makes the most of the chances that come his way.
His balance and controlled approach are facets that will serve him well, almost tailor-made for life at a club such as Liverpool. You might say that he could be the silky and fleet-footed attacking midfielder to exhume any past regrets over Gordon’s premature departure, even if he’s gearing up to play as a ten/eight, as opposed to a left winger.
But still, Nyoni’s tactical flexibility has been apparent across these nascent few years at Liverpool. Who knows how Slot will ultimately seek to deploy him as he continues to foster his athletic qualities and technical preferences.
|
Trey Nyoni – Career Stats by Position (all levels) |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals |
Assists |
|
Attacking midfield |
27 |
2 |
2 |
|
Central midfield |
16 |
6 |
1 |
|
Left winger |
3 |
1 |
0 |
|
Centre-forward |
3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Defensive midfield |
2 |
0 |
1 |
|
Right winger |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Stats via Transfermarkt |
|||
He’s not yet found his feet positionally, but he has plenty of time yet to discover who he is as a player. What matters is Nyoni’s technique and maturity does not align with his tender years, something Klopp and Slot have recognised, including him in first-team training and indeed senior matches.
While Liverpool chiefs may have rued the decision to let Gordon leave way back when, they could find that they have their own version in Nyoni, who is pacy and powerful and has shown that he could be a valuable asset on the left flank, scoring one goal from three matches for the U18s and U21s thus far.
Having played six matches for Liverpool’s first team, even earning an assist during last month’s FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley, Nyoni’s truly got the mark of a first-class star – and with Slot at the helm, there’s confidence he will realise his potential.
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