Liverpool defender Amara Nallo endured a nightmare evening on Wednesday, being sent off just 12 minutes after coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace. The 18-year-old now holds an unwanted record: he has been shown a red card in each of his only two appearances for the senior side, totalling just 16 minutes on the pitch.
Nallo replaced Alexis Mac Allister in the 67th minute at Anfield but was dismissed in the 79th minute after hauling down Justin Devenny, who was clean through on goal. The straight red card compounded a miserable night as Liverpool exited the competition.
His previous first-team outing came in January against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League, where he was on the pitch for only four minutes before being sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity. That debut, a 3-2 loss, also ended prematurely with a red card.
Manager Arne Slot revealed that senior defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate immediately consoled the teenager after his dismissal. 'They are great human beings in a moment like this when a young player for the second time is being sent off,' Slot said. 'It wasn't needed that I took care of him. These two already took care of him.'
Despite the defeat, Slot defended his decision to field several academy players, including Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha. 'This club has always used this competition for academy players,' he said. 'It felt to me the right decision.'
