Liverpool under-21s coach Jay Spearing heaped praise on the character Amara Nallo has displayed to earn a first-team recall.
The defender came off the bench for the Reds in the 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag in the Champions League. Nallo was called up for duty with Joe Gomez sidelined because of a hip injury, while Ibrahima Konate was absent due to the passing of his father.
Nallo made his third appearance for Arne Slot's side, replacing Dominik Szoboszlai. The centre-back suffered nightmares in his previous two Liverpool outings. He was given a red card in a 3-2 Champions League loss against PSV Eindhoven last year before being dismissed in a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup fourth round earlier this campaign.
They were tough experiences for Nallo, who joined Liverpool from West Ham United in the summer of 2023. But Spearing says that the teenager has been immense for the under-21s since his dismissal against Palace and his performances earned the trust of Reds head coach Slot.
Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC Podcast, Spearing said: “As an 18-year-old boy, moving away from home at 16 to come and play for one of the biggest clubs in the world, to get an opportunity twice to play for the first team, the manager is trusting you to go and do it.
“To be very unfortunate to be sent off on both occasions, mentally it can really damage you going forward. It can knock your confidence, it can make you think you're not good enough. But what I will one thing about Amara is that he's been outstanding in his mentality off the field and on the field since he's been back around the under-21s and going to train with the first team. He's taken it in his stride.
“He knows the mistakes he has made, he can't do anything about them and now he's looking forward. Probably within the last two months for us, he's been a real colossus in our under-21s' performances and that earnt him the right to go and train with the first team again.
“It's all come around in a full circle to get another opportunity with the first team and the trust of the manager. The manager didn't have to put him on with 20 minutes to go and move Ryan [Gravenberch] into midfield because we were comfortable and Ryan was comfortable at centre-back. But the manager gave him an opportunity and it'll give him a hell of a confidence [boost].”
Nallo is among the Liverpool under-21 youngsters who could head out on loan before the January transfer window closes. Liverpool have added two teenage centre-backs to their ranks this month, which could allow Nallo to gain regular first-team experience.
Noah Adekoya signed from Burnley, while Mor Talla Ndiaye moved to Merseyside from Senegalese outfit Amitie FC.