Liverpool teenager Trey Nyoni has revealed he models his game on former midfielder Thiago Alcantara after impressing on his first Champions League start in Wednesday's 6-3 win at LASK.
The 19-year-old, who became Liverpool's youngest player in overseas competition when he came off the bench at PSV Eindhoven in January 2025 aged 17, was a standout performer alongside Ryan Gravenberch in Austria. Despite being substituted with six minutes remaining, Nyoni attempted the most passes in the game with 90, completing 92% of them.
No nerves for Nyoni
Only Kostas Tsimikas, who played the full game, had more touches, while no Liverpool player won more aerial duels than the youngster.
"I don't feel nervous at all," Nyoni said. "I don't get nervous. With all the hard work I have put in to get to this moment and position, no. I just want to show the manager and everyone what I can do, show the fans what I can do. I feel like in games like today, people have travelled a long way to see us play so I want to give them something back."
"I feel good, I am buzzing. It was a good win but obviously I am disappointed to concede three goals. We had so much good attacking play and we need to keep going now. Honestly, nights like this are something I have always dreamt of. Now, I just have to keep going and going."
Pressing for Premier League start
With Gravenberch suspended and doubts over the fitness of Dominik Szoboszlai, Nyoni is pushing for a first Premier League start at Brentford on Saturday afternoon. He has already featured in six of Liverpool's nine games this season under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
"The manager has given me a lot of trust," he said. "He has given me so much responsibility. Ever since he came in, he has tried to make my life easy. He is helping a lot and helping me adapt to a new position I am playing right now. I still have a lot of work to keep improving but right now I feel good."
"He wants me to get on the ball as much as possible and always look to play forwards. That's the biggest message. Obviously, to just try to press high. With our press, everyone has their different roles and responsibilities."
Thiago the inspiration
When asked if there was any particular player on whom he styles his game, Nyoni instantly turned to the former Liverpool midfielder.
"For me, I always watch players like Thiago," he said. "For me, Thiago, yeah, he is the guy! Have I met him yet? No."
Should Nyoni continue his progress, that encounter may now only be a matter of time.
