Arne Slot drops major hint he could hand SPECIAL wonderkid his debut

One of the biggest successes in a crowded field so far this season under Arne Slot at Liverpool has been the way that the new head coach has integrated academy players into the first-team setup.

Both Tyler Morton and Trey Nyoni have received first-team minutes this season, as well as numerous expositions to first-team matchday squads in the Champions League.

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Slot has also brought numerous youth players into first-team training sessions, allowing them to get a feel for the professional game and integrate with the senior men’s players.

Slot has always been aware that he might have to rely on some youth talent at some point in what is an incredibly crowded season in which Liverpool could realistically win all four of the competitions they are involved in.

And with a bit of an ongoing injury crisis at the moment, Wednesday night’s League Cup quarter final against Southampton seems like the perfect time to do so.

The captain called up for Liverpool

None of Nyoni, captain Amara Nallo, James Norris or Jayden Danns played for the under-21s this afternoon in the Premier League 2 game against Crystal Palace.

This opens them up to involvement on Wednesday night.

Perhaps the most enticing involvement would be Nallo. As mentioned in this profile, the centre-back captains the U21s and is an aerially-dominant defender who is incredibly composed on the ball.

He was recently involved in his first matchday squad for the 3-3 draw against Newcastle, but is yet to make his professional debut.

With Ibrahima Konate out indefinitely, Jarell Quansah’s disastrous cameo against Fulham and a desire to rotate, there is a very real possibility Nallo could partner Virgil van Dijk at the heart of defence at St. Mary’s.

The youth products who could play for Liverpool vs Southampton

Separately, Nyoni’s involvement would not come as a surprise as he was featured in the previous League Cup victory over Brighton.

Jayden Danns made his professional debut under Jurgen Klopp last season, scoring twice in the FA Cup against Southampton. He recently returned from an injury that had kept him out since April and with Liverpool’s centre-forward situation still murky, his presence could be required.

James Norris, meanwhile, is Liverpool’s only currently available natural left-back for the game. Andy Robertson’s disastrous red card against Fulham on Saturday rules him out, whilst Kostas Tsimikas is down with an ankle injury. As a result, Norris could make his first appearance for the senior team since an FA Cup win against Shrewsbury in January 2022.

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