'Rock solid' Liverpool youngster looks set for senior debut on Saturday after what happened vs Spurs - opinion
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Liverpool must put Wednesday’s loss against Tottenham quickly out of their mind as attention turns to the FA Cup this weekend.
The Reds have been given a kind draw on paper, with League Two side Accrington Stanley making the trip to Anfield.
It’s set to be a special day for Stanley, who haven’t faced Liverpool since 1956.
That 2-0 Reds win at Anfield remains the only time the two teams have played each other in football history.
For Arne Slot, it is a rare chance to rest the majority of his senior Liverpool squad. A tough trip to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday will certainly be in his mind as he picks his team on Saturday.
In that respect, centre-back is quickly becoming an issue for the Liverpool head coach. And after Jarell Quansah went off with a problem against Tottenham, it now looks very possible that young Amara Nallo is set to make his senior debut on Saturday.
Amara Nallo set for Liverpool debut
Thankfully, Slot confirmed after the game that Quansah had actually been struggling with a slight bout of illness rather than injury.
“He didn't feel really well, so from the moment the game started until the moment we had to take him off, he felt a pressure, I think he said on his chest,” Slot said in his post-match press conference.
However, as Dominik Szoboszlai’s continued absence against Tottenham showed, there is something nasty going around right now. It feels unlikely that Quansah will be ready for Saturday.
The Liverpool academy graduate would have been a certain starter for Slot, with Wataru Endo probably earmarked to be dropped in alongside him.
But with Quansah now a doubt, Slot must weigh up whether to risk either Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate at Anfield.
In our opinion, Slot may choose to play one of his starting pair, but will limit their game time. Both should not play. Next on the list is Nallo, who if he does not start, will surely have to feature at some stage.
Nallo ready to make his mark
Nallo is highly rated at Liverpool and has been slowly progressing through the youth ranks since arriving in the summer of 2023.
U21s coach Barry Lewtas called Nallo ‘rock solid‘ for his performances in the UEFA Youth League this season and the 18-year-old clearly has big potential.
| Competition | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Premier League 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| EFL Trophy | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| UEFA Youth League | 6 | 1 | 1 |
It will not be easy to come in up against players who are hardened by weekly battles in League Two and if Nallo does play then Accrington will likely target him.
But the former West Ham prospect looks ready to make the step up this season. If not now, then it does beg the question ‘when?’.
Quansah may yet be fine to pull through and Slot can go with the 21-year-old and Endo. But just in case that can’t happen, we could well see a Liverpool debut this weekend.
