Iraola must replace his 4/10 shadow with an 8/10 Liverpool star who has played just 81 minutes this season
Trey Nyoni may have given Andoni Iraola plenty to think about after an impressive display in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup victory over Tottenham.
Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister all found the net as Liverpool secured a 3-1 win at Anfield, despite making several changes to their starting XI.
The 19-year-old Nyoni stood out in midfield, forming an impressive partnership with his Argentine teammate and arguably proving to be Liverpool’s strongest midfield presence before Ryan Gravenberch and the Reds’ No. 8 were introduced after the break.
While Gravenberch struggled to make the same impact, Nyoni’s performance gave Iraola plenty to consider.
There’s no doubt that player-stat platforms can be useful, but last night’s game showed why their ratings shouldn’t always be taken at face value.
FotMob, for example, gave Ryan Gravenberch a 6.9/10 and Trey Nyoni a 7.4/10 — only a 0.5-point difference despite the pair having very different levels of involvement.
Ryan Gravenberch — 28 minutes
– 11/11 passes completed
– 1 chance created
– 7 defensive contributions
– Dispossessed twice
– 3/5 ground duels won
– 2 interceptions
– 3 recoveries
Trey Nyoni — 62 minutes
– 37/39 passes completed
– 0 chances created
– 6 defensive contributions
– Dispossessed once
– 3/4 ground duels won
– 1 interception
– 6 recoveries
On paper, the numbers may make the performances look relatively close, but watching the match told a different story. Nyoni looked far more influential during his time on the pitch, while Gravenberch struggled to impose himself after coming on.
Our ratings:
– Ryan Gravenberch: 4/10
– Trey Nyoni: 8.5/10
What worked — and what didn’t — for Liverpool against Spurs?
There’s no denying that Ryan Gravenberch can be an excellent Premier League midfielder when he’s at his best.
However, Liverpool appeared noticeably less secure in midfield after the Dutchman came on alongside Szoboszlai in the second half.
So, what changed? A few moments from the game, highlighted by @lfc_eddie_, help explain the difference. Nyoni played with composure and made thoughtful decisions, while Gravenberch looked far less assured and struggled to find the same rhythm.
We can understand that there will be moments when a player fails to spot the right pass through the channel to break open an opponent’s defence. That’s simply part of the game.
However, what Ryan Gravenberch must avoid is lingering on the ball and allowing the opposition to close him down when he appears unable to escape the pressure. There was a time when the Dutch midfielder excelled in those situations, receiving the ball with his back to goal, turning away from his marker and driving forward. But against Spurs, there was a clear example just outside Liverpool’s own half where that approach backfired. Gravenberch lost possession, giving Tottenham the opportunity to launch a dangerous counter-attack.
If you’re playing as the most advanced midfielder in the pivot, you simply can’t afford to give the ball away cheaply when an easy pass is available. From what we can remember, Trey Nyoni didn’t make those kinds of mistakes.
The statistics might suggest that Gravenberch was heavily involved in the game, but the eye test painted a different picture. He often looked short of ideas, confidence and composure in the heart of midfield.
Right now, Liverpool appear to have another option who understands exactly what his role demands: knowing when to hold his position and allow Alexis Mac Allister to push forward, when to step in, and when to drop off. Nyoni showed very little tendency to waste possession.
Andoni Iraola Must Still Manage Trey Nyoni Carefully
There is a difficult balance to maintain here, and Liverpool must be cautious with Trey Nyoni.
It’s understandable that the 19-year-old has only featured for 81 minutes across all competitions this season. While there is a clear desire to see more of Nyoni, Andoni Iraola should avoid making him the automatic choice ahead of Ryan Gravenberch just yet.
That said, Nyoni’s impressive performance at L4 certainly strengthens the case for giving him more opportunities and gradually increasing his minutes.
And perhaps Liverpool can count themselves fortunate that they resisted the temptation to sell him during the summer.
