Liverpool’s £1 million January signing Mor Talla Ndiaye has joined Arne Slot‘s first-team squad for training ahead of Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace.
Ndiaye joined the Reds from Senegalese side Amitie FC at the beginning of January, with the 18-year-old arriving in a deal worth around £1 million.
Player Profile: Mor Talla Ndiaye
Full Name: El Hadji Mor Talla NdiayeAge: 18 (Jan 6, 2008)Height: 6’2″ (188cm)Birthplace: Senegal
Signed From: Amitie FCPosition: Centre-Back (L)Foot: LeftTransfer Fee: £1m (€1.2m)
After a slow start disrupted by an injury discovered during his medical, the tall, left-sided centre-back has begun to make headway with appearances for the U21s.
But ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Palace this weekend, Ndiaye has been working as part of Slot’s senior squad.
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He was one of 23 players to work on the outdoor pitches at the AXA Training Centre on Thursday along with fellow U21s regulars Kieran Morrison, Will Wright, James McConnell, Armin Pecsi and Kornel Misciur.
It remains to be seen if he will be involved in Saturday’s 3pm kickoff but the likelihood is that he will instead rejoin the U21s for their round-of-16 playoff against Palace the following day.
However if numbers are short, there is a chance Ndiaye makes the bench at Anfield – perhaps even pulling double duty with the young Reds also playing at home on Sunday.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool's substitute Federico Chiesa during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Forest won 3-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Federico Chiesa was the notable absentee from Thursday’s session, though the forward was involved the day before and it is likely his workload is simply being managed.
If he is not available it could open up an opportunity for 18-year-old striker Wright, who has four goals and five assists in his last 10 games for the U21s.
Slot could make changes to his starting lineup from the 2-1 win over Everton last time out, even though he now has a week off between games following Liverpool’s exit from the Champions League.
Liverpool squad in training pre-Crystal Palace
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, April 7, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konaté (L) and Alexander Isak during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Goalkeepers: Woodman, Pecsi, Misciur
Defenders: Van Dijk, Konate, Gomez, Ndiaye, Kerkez, Frimpong, Robertson
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Nyoni, McConnell
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Isak, Gakpo, Ngumoha, Morrison, Wright
That could minimise rotation further, but there will be at least one to come in as goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is ruled out.
Freddie Woodman is poised to start his first Premier League game since 2021 unless Alisson passes a late test on his hamstring – having not been part of training on Thursday.
Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Alexis Mac Allister are also likely to be considered for starts at Anfield.