Liverpool could sidestep UEFA red tape with wonderkid set to benefit from transfer exodus

Trey Nyoni could become Liverpool’s youngest ever player to play in both Europe and the Champions League this season following a busy end to the transfer window at Anfield. The Reds sanctioned five loan exits on deadline day.

Stefan Bajcetic, Marcelo Pitaluga, Nat Phillips, Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon all departed on temporary deals. And while the Spaniard and two wingers still classify as Under-21s, the Brazilian and centre-back would have needed to be registered in Arne Slot’s 25-man squad had they stayed at Anfield.

The same would have been true of Owen Beck and Rhys Williams prior to their own loan exits earlier in the month, as well as Sepp van den Berg, Fabio Carvalho and Billy Koumetio had they not completed permanent transfers.

At the start of the summer Liverpool boasted 14 homegrown players over the age of 21 who would have needed to be registered in their Premier League and Champions League squads, despite the fact they don’t require more than eight within their ranks to name a full 25-man squad.

Such a total has now dropped down to seven following the aforementioned departures - though that includes overage Under-21s player Tom Hill. While the 21-year-old has previously made his senior Liverpool debut, it came under then Under-23s manager Neil Critchley in an Academy line-up against Aston Villa in the League Cup quarter-finals back in December 2019.

He could be selected in Slot’s Premier League squad this season as a result, even if the chance of first team game-time is unlikely for the midfielder. However, it would be no surprise if he is left out of the Reds’ Champions League squad.

His absence would leave Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Vitezslav Jaros, Caoimhin Kelleher, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Tyler Morton as Liverpool’s six homegrown players when it comes to European competition.

But that, in turn with the departures of the aforementioned homegrown players, has opened the door to Nyoni being included in the Reds’ Champions League squad.

The 17-year-old wonderkid, along with centre-back Amara Nallo, both classify as Under-21s players and don’t need to be registered when it comes to naming a Premier League squad. However, it is different in European competition.

While the pair are young enough to be named on ‘List B’ for underage players, they have not been at Liverpool long enough to be eligible for a place, having only signed from Leicester City and West Ham United respectively last summer.

This left them ineligible to play in Europe last season as a result. However, with the Reds potentially leaving two homegrown berths in their Champions League squad, while also not filling their full 17-man quota of permitted overseas players, Slot will be left with space in his ranks to register both players this season if he wishes.

A previous minor headache for Jurgen Klopp, which resulted in Adrian needing to be left out to make space for both Ryan Gravenberch and Ben Doak last season for example, Liverpool's current roster enables to quite easily side-step such UEFA red tape.

Nyoni, who scored in the pre-season win over Sevilla, continues to train with the first team squad on a daily basis. And having only celebrated his 17th birthday back in June, he is poised to break both European and Champions League records for Liverpool if he is selected this season.

Phil Charnock is the Reds’ youngest ever player in Europe, having been 17 years, seven months and two days old when selected against Apollon Limassol in the European Cup Winners Cup in September 1992. Meanwhile, Bajcetic is Liverpool's youngest Champions League debut, having been 17 years, 10 months and 22 days old when handed his maiden appearance in the competition against Ajax in September 2022.

Nyoni will still be younger than Charnock was in 1992, though only just, when the Reds’ Champions League league-phase campaign comes to an end away at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday 29 January. Consequently, he will beat both records if selected in Europe by Slot this season.

Meanwhile, Michael Owen remains Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer in Europe, having 17 years, nine months and two days old when netting his first European goal against Celtic in September 1997. If Nyoni, who is already the Reds’ youngest ever FA Cup debutant, gets his name on the scoresheet in the Champions League, that is another record he will inherit.

While the teenager did not make the matchday squad for Liverpool’s opening two Premier League fixtures against Ipswich Town and Brentford, he is perhaps well-placed to be involved in the League Cup third round against West Ham United next month. And with sides permitted to name a maximum 12-man bench for European benches, he could be included in a number of Champions League matchday squads.

Whether Liverpool’s campaign proves to be straightforward enough to hand the youngster some European minutes remains to be seen. But having already caught Slot’s eye following the Dutchman’s arrival at Anfield, Nyoni is certainly one to watch in the months ahead.

Liverpool possible Champions League squad 2024/25

Goalkeepers: Alisson, Kelleher (club-trained), Jaros (club-trained).

Defenders: Gomez (club-trained), Van Dijk, Konate, Tsimikas, Robertson, Nallo (association-trained), Alexander-Arnold (club-trained).

Midfielders: Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Jones (club-trained), Gravenberch, Morton (club-trained), Nyoni (association-trained).

Forwards: Diaz, Nunez, Salah, Chiesa, Gakpo, Jota.

Select List B players: Elliott, Quansah, Bradley, McConnell, Danns.

Ineligible senior players: Hill.