Arne Slot will hand first-team opportunities to teenage sensations Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni this season. The Liverpool manager has confirmed both youngsters will feature in his squad for the forthcoming campaign. Ngumoha, who celebrates his 17th birthday later this month, has made a striking impression during pre-season following his switch from Chelsea's academy 12 months ago.
Slot remarked: "You never know how an individual handles that situation. It was a year ago when Trey Nyoni scored a goal, I think against Sevilla, when he was also maybe 17 – very young. They have an incredible chance to work and be every day around players like Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and all these others to see what they do to be ready to perform every three days. That is a step these players definitely have to make, which is completely normal if you're 16 or 17. It's already nice if they can play once a week at a good level."
"We just try to develop them in the best way we can. We also have to take care of them because new players that come in that are 24, 23, 22 already experienced that the intensity levels are quite high either during the games or in training sessions, let alone for players that are 16 and coming through the academy.
"We are aware of that but it's been a promising start from him, like for Trey Nyoni as well because I think Trey also played a very good game at Anfield [against Athletic Club] three days ago.
Slot remained tight-lipped about Alexander Isak on Friday when he met with journalists before the Community Shield clash with Crystal Palace. Nevertheless, he hinted that Liverpool were still pursuing transfer opportunities.
He said: "I think, we think, we already have a lot of attacking power in our team when I think about Cody Gakpo, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Mo Salah, Jeremie Frimpong, who can play as a right-winger, and Florian Wirtz, who can play as a left-winger.
"I already feel I have a lot of attacking options in my current squad. But as always, as a club we are always looking at the chances in the market – but that can also be in the midfield or in the last line."