Curtis Jones’ face must have been a picture as Arne Slot told Trey Nyoni to get ready during Liverpool’s win over West Ham United on Saturday.
Notoriously self-confident, it will likely have been a chastening moment for the Scouser, who failed to feature as the Reds swept to a 5-2 win.
Jones’ future has come into question recently after a January flirtation with Inter Milan, and after Slot turned to Nyoni instead of his No. 17 for the final five minutes at Anfield, it looked like another nail in the possibility of him staying at Liverpool beyond this summer.
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He did more in 13 minutes vs West Ham than Salah did all game 😶
Jeremie Frimpong celebrates after forcing an own goal during Liverpool's Premier League win over West Ham United at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dan Mullan
There may have been another reason for Slot deciding to bring the 18-year-old on ahead of Jones. But, if it was a simple selection decision, it does not look good for the Liverpool academy graduate.
Nyoni could take Jones’ minutes
With Liverpool at least two goals to the good with a big portion of the game left to play, Jones would surely have been expecting to come on during the second-half against West Ham.
Ryan Gravenberch was not having a particularly good game, despite recording a fine assist for the opening goal, while Alexis Mac Allister is always a candidate to be replaced as his fitness is protected.
Nevertheless, with the game tighter than the scoreline suggested, Slot chose to keep the players he had on the pitch. Jones must have been itching to get on.
Arne Slot hugs Trey Nyoni after Liverpool beat West Ham United in the Premier League at Anfield.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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When he finally did change things, with the score reading 5-2, Slot may have felt the cursory minutes would do Nyoni more good than Jones. Either way, it was another quiet nod that the Scouser’s time with his boyhood club is coming to an unhappy end.
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It would be a surprise to see the Liverpool head coach do the same again if a midfield change is needed in the coming games, but maybe that is simply where Jones is now.
Nyoni is a talented young player, and if he is given minutes ahead of someone on the way out of the door, nobody should be complaining too hard.
Did anyone actually deserve man of the match against West Ham? 😆
If so, who was it?
Alexis Mac Allister during Liverpool v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
How did Nyoni play?
With seven minutes of added time, Nyoni ended up playing more than 10 minutes for the Reds against West Ham.
During that time, the former Leicester City prospect may have only managed five touches of the ball, but he really should have scored.
Arriving late into the box, he fired Jeremie Frimpong’s pull-back high over the bar when he really should have hit the target.
A goal in such circumstances may have made Slot’s decision to bring the youngster on for Jones in the future an easier one, but as it was there was little really to make Nyoni stand out.
With only three days until Liverpool play again, it could be that Jones is simply being rested to play the full 90 minutes against Wolves. But this is now a situation that cannot be ignored as one of Liverpool fans’ own heads for the exit.
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