Pre-season friendlies can often be a drab and testing watch but there are always silver linings.
For Liverpool supporters this year, there is the chance to get a first look at Arne Slot’s tactical setup with the Dutch coach succeeding Jurgen Klopp in the dugout. But, of course, there is also the opportunity to see some of the club’s brightest young academy stars in action.
At Anfield, there are plenty of those, but one that has caught the eye most is 17-year-old Trey Nyoni. The midfielder was exceptional during Liverpool’s recent 1-0 friendly victory over Real Betis in the United States, with fans sitting up and taking notice of the talented teenager.
But who is Trey Nyoni and why should Liverpool supporters be excited by the teenager?
Nyoni may already be marked as a superstar in the making on Merseyside, but he has only been on Liverpool’s books for a year. The youngster signed for the Reds having risen through the ranks at his local club Leicester City, joining up with the six-time European champions in 2023.
Liverpool have signed plenty of youngsters from English clubs over recent years but Nyoni quickly established himself as a gem within the academy setup. Jurgen Klopp took a liking to the midfielder and he frequently trained with the Reds’ first-team squad during the 2023/24 campaign.
Nyoni was 16 when he made his debut for Liverpool’s senior side. Having been an unused substitute during their Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea last season, he donned a red jersey for the first time shortly afterwards against Southampton in the FA Cup.
Part of a convincing 3-0 win for a young Liverpool outfit, Nyoni made only a small cameo from the bench, but instantly had supporters purring with a confident display.
Nyoni has been a regular for Liverpool’s under-18 and under-21 sides, shining when offered an opportunity. Last season, he netted three times and laid on an assist in eight appearances for the under-18s, managing a further two goals in 15 appearances for the under-21s. Remember, he only turned 17 last month.
At Leicester, it was a similar story of success. He made plenty of under-18 Premier League appearances for the Foxes, registering another two goals and an assist in 13 outings during the 2022/23 season. He has already shown his ability to be a creative force in the final third.
Nyoni has also represented England at youth level, turning out most recently for the under-18 team. He made his debut in March 2024 and has gone on to make a further three appearances for the junior Three Lions. His rise up the age groups may be swift.
Given his age, Nyoni can pretty much develop in any position he chooses across the midfield, but he most frequently operates as a box-to-box number eight. However, the teenager has played in a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder, or even occasionally as a winger.
Nyoni has notably impressive technical attributes for a player so youthful. With a keen eye for a pass and a goal, he’s dazzled with his bravery on the ball and ability to drive forward from deeper positions.
Against Real Betis, Nyoni often picked the ball up in his own half, either striding forward in possession or playing a fizzing pass in between the lines for his attacking midfielders. He refused to play it safe, which is always tempting for youngsters looking to avoid making mistakes early on in their career.
Speaking about Nyoni after the match, Slot was visibly impressed. The 45-year-old admitted: “Trey did well, he was involved in the goal with a spot on pass between the lines and he was involved in our biggest chance in the second half.
“But he’s only just turned 17 and his body still has to grow. We are really careful with him. He doesn’t join every session. You can see his quality. He needs some time to grow to play at Premier League level but he’s an interesting player.”
Slot has also identified his biggest weakness at present. A slender build means Nyoni is not a particularly imposing physical presence, which in the cut-throat world of senior football – especially in midfield – is an issue. However, he has plenty of time to develop, both physically and technically.
Nyoni played just 41 minutes against Real Betis after coming on for Curtis Jones in the first half following an injury to the 23-year-old, but only four Liverpool players boasted more touches than him (52) – all of them defenders.
The midfielder was successful in 42 of his 46 passes (91%) and topped the rankings for passes into the final third (8). His willingness to fire the ball forward and his composure to pick the right teammate out made it difficult for Real Betis to keep Liverpool in their own half. He wasn’t dispossessed once during an encouraging display.
As Slot mentioned after the game, Nyoni was also key in setting up Liverpool’s winning goal. Sliding a ball through to Dominik Szoboszlai with a clever pass, the Hungarian swiftly played a one-two with Mohamed Salah before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
Liverpool fans will be desperate to see more of him in upcoming friendlies with Arsenal, Manchester United and Sevilla.