-Credit:Getty Images
Arne Slot will need to take the rare opportunity he has to rotate as Liverpool takes on Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup.
With so many matches coming, the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah should be given the day off. While Liverpool will still pick an experienced side that could include Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa, there could well be some younger players there too. Slot has plenty of talent to choose from who he has been casting an eye over in training.
Going from back to front, Amara Nallo is a talented 18-year-old central defender. Signed from West Ham United in 2023, the teenager has been a consistent performer at youth level and has already captained Liverpool’s U19s in the UEFA Youth League.
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“I thought Amara was outstanding,” U19s boss Barry Lewtas told Liverpool.com earlier this season after one impressive performance in Europe. “He was stepping in and passing, his defending… there were a lot of top moments, and I don’t remember him doing anything wrong. He is someone who has made huge progress and today I thought in a game of this level, he was a stand-out performer.”
While Endo and Jarell Quansah could partner up at the back, Nallo is likely to be on the bench. If needed, he would be ready to come on and play a part at some point and with Liverpool lacking center-back options, you can far from rule out the possibility that he finds his way onto the field.
Trey Nyoni has already impressed Arne Slot this season -Credit:Getty Images
In midfield, Liverpool fans have already had a glimpse of Trey Nyoni, who arrived from Leicester City around the same time that Nallo came in. Nyoni started away at Southampton in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals and didn’t look out of place, so there should be no qualms about him getting a game on home turf. He’s already scored at Anfield when he netted against Sevilla in pre-season.
If Tyler Morton isn’t fit, James McConnell could play as the number six. Jayden Danns, meanwhile, could get some minutes in the Liverpool attack depending on who else there is to fit into the front three. Both of those players played a big part in the cup runs last season, where they proved they are ready if called upon. Had they not been injured in the summer, they were both ready for a loan.
Finally, Rio Ngumoha, who has created plenty of excitement since arriving from Chelsea in the summer, could be set to get minutes off the bench. The 16-year-old loves to dribble with the ball, and he certainly doesn’t lack confidence. While he is unlikely to start, Ngumoha could be a part of the matchday squad with an eye on a second-half cameo.