Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Barnsley should have offered a chance to those on the fringes of the squad, but Arne Slot couldn’t give one player the chance he deserves.
Monday night’s cup tie was far closer a contest than we were expecting.
Barnsley stayed in the game until the dying moments, which meant Slot needed to call on first-teamers to ensure the job got done.
mail iconJoin our newsletter for news & smart analysis.
The FA Cup should usually be the moment in which rare minutes are given to squad players, and he’s particularly regretful of leaving one young star on the bench.
Trey Nyoni in action during Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield.
Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Arne Slot regrets Trey Nyoni snub
Slot fielded a strong XI against Barnsley, but the idea would have been to use his substitutions to give playing time to youngsters against a lower-quality side.
But when the 60-minute mark arrived, Liverpool weren’t in the clear and needed an injection of quality from players he could trust.
That meant no introduction for Trey Nyoni, who has barely seen the pitch this season.
He told LFC TV: “I feel really sorry for Trey because maybe it was my mistake, but at 2-1 I thought I had to make the substitutions to win the game instead of giving a young player who is training so hard every single day and is such a big talent the playing time he might deserve.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“I thought, ‘Let’s bring Ryan in first’, and that all had to do with us conceding the 2-1, because usually a game like this should go to three and then maybe more.”
Who is the most talented youngster in the Liverpool academy?
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Liverpool have decided to keep Nyoni around the squad, with Slot seeing him as a player who can contribute long-term. He needs development, though.
The 18-year-old is an exciting prospect, and from the manager’s own words, he should be getting more of a run.
Liverpool running out of games to use Trey Nyoni
Nyoni has just two Premier League minutes under his belt this season. By all appearances, his opportunities will mostly be constricted to cup competition.
The FA Cup does still offer that chance, but the games are only getting more difficult.
How do you think Liverpool will fare against Brighton in the FA Cup?
Arne Slot gives a thumbs up after Liverpool's FA Cup win over Barnsley at Anfield.
Credit: Liverpool FC/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Nyoni will be encouraged by Slot’s words, seeing that he hasn’t been forgotten. That being said, he will need to see it in practice this season if Liverpool are to convince him to be in it for the long haul.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox