As Liverpool prepares for a huge clash against Brentford in the Premier League, head coach Andoni Iraola has some decisions to make on who will replace the suspended Ryan Gravenberch
Head coach Andoni Iraola of Liverpool FC looks dejected during the UEFA Champions League 2026/2027 match between LASK and Liverpool
Andoni Iraola is looking ahead to Liverpool's clash with Brentford(Image: (Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images))
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has given a glowing review of youngster Trey Nyoni, following questions about who could replace Ryan Gravenberch in the midfield for the upcoming meeting with Brentford in the Premier League.
The Netherlands international is unavailable due to suspension, as he picked up two yellow cards in the previous clash with Manchester City, which has resulted in a one-match suspension that he will be serving at the weekend. Iraola's options are limited in the deeper midfield role, as Dominik Szoboszlai could feature there instead, but he is currently a doubt through injury.
That leaves the manager either dropping Florian Wirtz deeper and finding a replacement higher up the pitch, which seems unlikely, or the possibility of turning to academy youngster Nyoni.
The 19-year-old impressed during preseason for Liverpool, showing a calmness in his play, despite taking the leap up to the senior side which can be a pressurized environment.
There was enough faith in the midfielder to avoid making a signing in the central areas during the summer, after the exit of Curtis Jones, suggesting that he would get opportunities to shine on the big stage throughout a busy fixture schedule.
One such chance came by in midweek, when the England youth international started against LASK and impressed in what was a relatively convincing 6-3 win. Now, with the chance ahead of him to start back-to-back games with the Brentford clash around the corner, his manager has been asked about whether he could replace Gravenberch in the team.
Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas of Liverpool
Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas of Liverpool(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
Iraola responded: "n this period especially, playing every three days, you need more players and that is why we change yesterday. We need to change Brentford and then Villarreal too. We need everyone, they need to be ready."
While he may have dodged the question specifically on Nyoni starting over the weekend, he did go on to outline some of the qualities the star has, if he is to feature.
He continued: "Trey is a player who is very young, he is very mature, he understands the game very well, he is tactically smart and he has to continue going in this direction.
"He has been involved a lot and he has to keep this level up, be a number six or an eight, he has to put pressure on the other midfielders! It's good he can perform in the Champions League."
It certainly suggests that the manager is happy with Nyoni as an option, if and when he needs to call upon him in the key moments during the season.
Whether that moment will come again over the weekend remains to be seen, but it will be quite the challenge for him to compete at the level against a well-coached Premier League side.