Arne Slot's message to Liverpool youngsters after Trey Nyoni debut
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Arne Slot watched Liverpool’s fringe players almost let a two-goal lead slip before confirming their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals. Goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott appeared to have the Premier League leaders in cruise control after little more than half an hour against struggling Southampton.
But Cameron Archer produced a fine finish before goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher denied the Saints forward an equaliser from point blank range while Paul Onuachu and Ben Brereton Diaz spurned late opportunities. “The first half was really good, a good performance,” said Slot, whose team are now unbeaten in 20 games. “But it didn’t come as a complete surprise to concede because we got a bit sloppy and lost one or two easy balls. They came back into the game.”.
Slot, who was serving a one-game touchline ban, decided to keep Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at home and handed a first start to 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni. Fellow academy graduate Tyler Morton started, while Jaden Danns and James McConnell came off the bench.
And Slot said of his young guns: "This club is known for this. These players train with us on a daily basis and it is nice to see they showed they can play at this level. Now the next step is to be capable of playing [regularly] for Liverpool. “We have to defend the trophy. I wasn’t involved but the players were. We want to compete in every competition. It’s always a tough competition but this year for sure.”.
