Liverpool U21s drew 3-3 against Crystal Palace U21s this afternoon with the Reds' side offering a potential hint about four young talents who could be involved with the first team midweek against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
In-form Trent Kone-Doherty opened the scoring with Kieran Morrison and Tommy Pilling also netting for Liverpool in the first half, with Barry Lewtas' side going in 3-2 ahead at the break. But in the second half, Jemiah Umolu netted an equalizer with the match finishing all square.
James Balagizi returned to the matchday squad after injury but the most interesting aspect of the game was arguably that Trey Nyoni, James McConnell, Jayden Danns, James Norris and Amara Nallo were not involved. That could indicate that they are set to be in the matchday squad for the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Southampton on Wednesday with Arne Slot likely to rotate his starting XI.
Nyoni, 17, has been on the bench twice in the Champions League so far this season and another three times in the Premier League, including against Fulham over the weekend. Danns last appeared for Liverpool at senior level when he came off the bench in the Europa League against Atalanta in April.
Norris is a left-back and could be in line to get minutes with Andy Robertson suspended and Kostas Tsimikas injured. Nallo, meanwhile, is a promising center-back who could provide cover in that position with Ibrahima Konate currently sidelined. If he does, he will be earning his senior debut (Norris played in 2021 against Aston Villa in the second-string side while the bigger stars were at the FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar).
Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni, Jayden Danns and Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool boarding a plane ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match against Girona at Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Amara Nallo, Trey Nyoni, Jayden Danns and Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool boarding a plane ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match against Girona at Liverpool John Lennon Airport (Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool will be able to bring the likes of Tyler Morton, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott into the side while Darwin Nunez didn't start against Fulham and could here, while it remains to be seen how close to another start Federico Chiesa is. But having the younger options to come off the bench could allow players like Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch to have a midweek off.
Liverpool.com says: Rotation will be important for Liverpool but going through to the semi-finals would be big too. Winning some silverware early in his Anfield tenure would be a big boost for Slot, even though the Premier League and the Champions League are the clear priority this year.