What Trey Nyoni did just before Alexander Isak goal isn’t getting enough attention
Trey Nyoni’s rise at Liverpool this season has been impressive.
The youngster’s potential was obvious to Andoni Iraola’s predecessor, Arne Slot, last term, but the club rightly decided to be careful with what was an 18-year-old footballer with limited senior experience.
It’s very much a different story in 2026/27, however, with the Basque head coach having already handed the midfielder over 600 minutes of action across the Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup.
Trey Nyoni has become a trusted member of the Liverpool squad
If three consecutive starts for Liverpool – against Chelsea, Arsenal and Fenerbahce – doesn’t prove it, you have to think that the nature of Nyoni’s introduction against Crystal Palace more or less seals the view that Nyoni has become a key player for Iraola.
The correct decision was made ahead of time to rest the former Leicester City prodigy after a flurry of games, with our player of the season last year, Dominik Szoboszlai, restored to the starting XI.
But when it came time for the Hungarian to depart the pitch, it was Trey Nyoni the manager turned to at the 69th minute mark. Yes, it’s worth pointing out that senior midfielders (other than Wataru Endo) aren’t exactly running amok on the Liverpool bench at this point in time. But this felt like a trusted substitution, a body Iraola has come to rely on, rather than one that just had to be made.
Nyoni plays crucial role in Alexander Isak goal vs Crystal Palace
The assist credit will go to Florian Wirtz for the Alexander Isak goal close to full time, but it would be remiss of us to overlook Trey Nyoni’s contribution moments before.
The teenager can be spotted cutting out a low cross from Tyrick Mitchell in the box before picking out Alexander Isak (surrounded by three Palace players) further up the pitch. The ball plays out to Victor Munoz on the right flank, and Liverpool find a Palace defence in absolute disarray.
It’s not a fancy crossfield pass or Hollywood Gerrard ball, but there’s intention behind it, and it’s a positive use of the ball to help kickstart a Liverpool counter. Exactly what Andoni Iraola wants to see his midfielders doing at Liverpool on a frequent basis.
Ultimately, it’s so encouraging to see Nyoni continuing to be impactful in games even when he’s coming on, effectively, to see things out.
