Liverpool have a goal-scoring centre-back coming through the academy who could get chance this season

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool have seen real progress in the young players coming through the ranks in recent years.

While not too long ago it was rare to see a youngster move up to the first-team and look like he truly belongs, it has been happening with much more regularity recently.

It hasn’t only been Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley, both of whom are now fixtures in the Liverpool squad, there have been plenty of others who have looked the part, too.

Many of these have been players who have joined the Liverpool academy from elsewhere.

There are high hopes for Rio Ngumhoa, brought to the club from Chelsea this summer, while Trey Nyoni continues to be around the first-team picture.

Another starlet signed by Liverpool at the same time as Nyoni was centre-back Amara Nallo. And while the midfielder has garnered much of the focus, Nallo is starting to come into his own as well.

Amara Nallo praised for goal-scoring knack

Nyoni was certainly the most eye-catching of the academy additions in summer of 2023. However, Nallo was equally highly-rated upon joining from West Ham.

The 17-year-old has already been around the first team under Arne Slot. Nallo travelled with the senior players on their tour of the USA this summer.

While his minutes were limited during those friendlies, the teenager is certainly on the radar.

And as U21s coach Barry Lewtas explained to the Liverpool ECHO, there’s good reason for that. Nallo got the winner in the UEFA Youth League match against Bologna on Wednesday and Lewtas says that he’s starting to add goals to his already impressive game.

READ MORE: Barry Lewtas says Liverpool have a ‘rock solid’ centre-back partner for Amara Nallo

“We have said to the defenders, from set-pieces can you add a bit more value to your game, a centre-back who is good in both boxes?” posed the Liverpool coach.

“Amara has two in two now. We made him captain and he has had a lot of experience at 21s. We have a number of boys who lead well by example and Amara and Wellity Lucky are two of them.

“Amara is maybe finding his voice and becoming a bit more of a leader in a different way,” Lewtas added. “But the way he is playing – with blocks, clearances and goals – he is becoming a leader in that way.”

Amara Nallo could get Liverpool chance

Lewtas’ words perhaps underline why Liverpool chose not to bring in an additional centre-back this summer.

While they currently have four fit senior options, it has been reported that Nallo is the fifth-choice centre-back for Liverpool this season.

As a result, there is a real possibility that the former West Ham man is given a chance under Slot between now and May.

All it takes is one or two players to go down with injury at the same time and all of a sudden Nallo is in the matchday squad.

With so many games still to come this season, it does not feel out of the question that that is a scenario that could occur. If it does, Nallo sounds like he’ll be ready.