Trey Nyoni makes his first start of the season for Liverpool against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup, with the young midfielder being backed to force his way into Andoni Iraola's team
Liverpool's English midfielder #42 Trey Nyoni takes part in a training session at the AXA training centre in Liverpool, north west England, on September 8, 2026, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League, first round football match against Atletico Madrid. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Trey Nyoni made his first start of the season for Liverpool against Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)
Conor Coady and Jamie Redknapp both believe Trey Nyoni has the chance to force his way into Liverpool’s first-team as the Reds’ new No.6.
The 19-year-old has been handed his first start of the season as Liverpool faces Tottenham in the third round of the Carabao Cup at Anfield. Andoni Iraola has taken the opportunity to rotate his squad, with 10 changes made from the goalless draw with Fulham at the weekend.
Nyoni impressed during pre-season and looked as though he could go on to have a bigger role under Iraola, having had limited opportunities under Arne Slot last season.
So far, he has made just two cameo appearances from the bench, but having worked closely with him, former Liverpool defender Coady - who has worked with Liverpool's academy this season - believes starting against Spurs could be the start of something big.
“The biggest thing and the biggest compliment I can pay Trey Nyoni is he’s an old head on young shoulders, he really is,” Coady told Sky Sports.
“He can dictate a game, we speak a lot about midfielders, but the way he’s always wanting the ball, he’s brave on the ball. He knows where to be off the ball so he can intercept, he can read the game really well, but he can really demand and be a real presence in the middle of the pitch.
Conor Coady and Jamie Redknapp speaking on Sky Sports
Conor Coady and Jamie Redknapp were in agreement on Trey Nyoni's future(Image: Sky Sports)
“I think he’s got a real big future at Liverpool, I really do believe that. I said before, I witnessed it first-hand with England U19s and how good he actually can be, how professional he is from being in the environment built at Liverpool, but also how he’s developing into a man now.
“I think he’s a wonderful footballer, but he needs more chances, and this is a big game for him because, like I said, it’s not as if you’re coming up against a lower league team, it’s a good Tottenham Hotspur team, so it’s a real good game for him.”
Former Reds midfielder Redknapp was in agreement, and suggested that the door is open for Nyoni to become Liverpool’s new No.6, with the position having been a problem area so far this season.
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“This manager, he will give young players a chance,” Redknapp said. “He’s not afraid, you saw what he did at Bournemouth with the likes of [Dean] Huijsen when he put him in, he will give you an opportunity.
“Nobody’s really taken that No.6 role and grabbed it. [Ryan] Gravenberch did for a year when I thought he was wonderful and they won the Premier League. The last year or so, you can see it, he vacates the position because he’s got such great energy and he’s such a good footballer, sometimes I think he gets a bit bored playing in the six.
“Whereas I think with Trey, he was a No.10 as a younger player, now they’ve said to him ‘you’re going to be a six’. This is an opportunity.
“If he plays well tonight, he’s going to get a lot of games, and that’s the chance you have to take, without putting too much pressure on him.”