Liverpool teen midfielder with Southern African roots makes history
Trey Nyoni, a Liverpool midfielder, made history on Wednesday night at Anfield when Liverpool defeated Southampton once more in an outstanding match. He was 16 years and 243 days old when he made his FA Cup debut for Liverpool, making him the third youngest player in the club’s overall history.
While Nyoni’s parents are believed to have immigrated to the UK around 2000, they are originally from Zimbabwe. His father, Mjumbeki Nyoni was also a football player who played for Gwanda Ramblers.
Born four days before the great Fernando Torres joined Liverpool in 2007, Nyoni joined the Reds in September after leaving Championship team Leicester City. Jurgen Klopp, the manager of Liverpool, called him up soon after he was promoted to the under-21 team early in November.
Following the final whistle, Klopp was all praises for his young players. “It was an incredible game,” said Kloop.
Jurgen Klopp trusted the youth again for their fifth round match against Southampton, having been forced by injuries to give several young players a run in their Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea the previous weekend.
With goals from Lewis Koumas and Jaden Danns, Klopp’s faith in the youthful players paid off as the Merseysiders advanced to a tasty quarterfinal matchup with fierce rivals Manchester United.
“Southampton are a top side, our midfield press was not quite right. For 15 minutes we were all over and Saints could have scored but we found our way, scored a wonderful goal.”