Although it has been a difficult second season under manager Arne Slot for [Liverpool](https://walkon.com/) here in the 2025/26 campaign after they won the Premier League again in 2024/25, there are a lot of huge positives to take forward into the future.
Liverpool have such a loaded squad on paper, and although most of the conversation about this team centers around the most expensive new attacking signings, the defensive moves the Reds made recently could also pay off big time.
No new signing was standing out more at the beginning of the season before a devastating ACL tear than the 19 year old center back Giovanni Leoni, who was an unsung signing from Serie A side Parma.
But true Kopites knew that Leoni was one to watch, and before his injury, the Italian youth international was quickly establishing himself as one of THE very best center back prospects in world football.
As Liverpool supporters anxiously await his return, the 18 year old home grown center back talent Trey Nyoni made it his time to shine in about 30 minutes of a cameo appearance off the bench in the Champions League win over Kairat Almaty.
Nyoni has played sparingly in the 2025/26 season for Liverpool, but the Reds clearly have him earmarked for greatness. And in his first test of the season against Kairat, Nyoni passed with flying colors, recording three tackles and showing that he is every bit the future star center back at Anfield that Leoni is. Watch him.
Joe Soriano is the editor of _The Trivela Effect_ and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like _The Real Champs_ (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage _NFL Spin Zone_ and _Daily DDT,_ covering the NFL and pro wrestling.