£277k per week midfielder warned: 19-year-old is coming to take your place

Liverpool left themselves with limited midfield options following the conclusion of the summer transfer window.

Out went Stefan Bajcetic and more significantly Curtis Jones on permanent deals while Harvey Elliott was permitted to leave for Valencia on loan.

No midfielder was signed - despite a clear and obvious need - and that decision may end up backfiring for Andoni Iraola. Dominik Szoboszlai is suffering an injury-hit campaign while Alexis Mac Allister could be off in summer if no new contract is agreed.

Factor in a dramatic loss in form for Ryan Gravenberch and you realise that the 2024/25 Premier League champions are really short of bonafide midfield options this season.

Trey Nyoni emerging as a star

Be grateful then for the emergence of Trey Nyoni. The 19-year-old was signed for the academy under Jurgen Klopp back in 2023 - but has had to bide his time for chances in the first team.

Without Jones et al to compete with the England under-21 international call-up has finally grasped his chance. Nyoni has played in eight consecutive matches under Iraola - starting the midweek EFL Cup win against Chelsea at Anfield.

The timing is perfect considering Gravenberch’s drop-off - with Nyoni well-placed to benefit should Iraola drop the Dutchman.

Gravenberch, 24, signed a £277k per week contract extension earlier this year but his employers have not yet seen the value in that deal.

He gave away a crucial penalty on the night against the Blues and missed his spot-kick in the shootout.

And according to a report in the Athletic Nyoni eclipsed the performance of his more seasoned midfield colleague throughout his 81-minute appearance on Wednesday.

Nyoni is gunning for Gravenberch's midfield spot

“Up against the experienced Jordan Henderson, one of the Premier League’s best midfielders Moises Caicedo, and the talented Romeo Lavia, he stood up to the challenge and didn’t look out of place, outperforming his midfield team-mate Ryan Gravenberch, who endured a difficult night,” the report reads.

Nyoni was the chosen one over the summer when it came time to decide the back-up to Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai. He has not looked out of place up to now - giving Liverpool no cause to regret a decision not to send him out on loan.

“Heading into the summer, there was the possibility of a loan move being the best next step for his development,” the report continues.

“By the start of the season, that potential plan was no longer being considered because his performances in pre-season earned him the opportunity to fight for first-team minutes.”

The next step will be a first Premier League start under Basque tactico Iraola. The report acknowledges that the weekend game against Arsenal will probably be too big an occasion to risk Nyoni from the outset.

“It would be a surprise if the head coach opted to keep Nyoni in the team for such a big game, but there is no doubt the midfielder’s first league start is edging closer,” the report concludes.

But Gravenberch should take this as a warning. His mammoth contract renewal is no guarantee of remaining in the first team especially with a young and ambitious Nyoni breathing down his neck.