Liverpool defender Amara Nallo endured a nightmare evening on Wednesday as he was sent off just 12 minutes after coming off the bench in the Carabao Cup defeat to Crystal Palace. The 18-year-old, who replaced Alexis Mac Allister in the 67th minute, was shown a straight red card in the 79th minute for pulling back Justin Devenny when the Palace player was clean through on goal.
Remarkably, this was the second time Nallo has been dismissed in his only two senior appearances for the Reds. His debut came in a 3-2 Champions League loss to PSV Eindhoven in January, where he was sent off just four minutes after entering the pitch in the 83rd minute. In total, Nallo has played only 16 minutes for Liverpool's first team and has been sent off twice.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised senior defenders Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate for immediately consoling the teenager after his dismissal. 'I didn't need to say that much,' Slot said. 'Ibou and Virgil immediately went inside to talk to him. That tells me they are great human beings in a moment like this when a young player for the second time is being sent off.'
Nallo joined Liverpool from West Ham's academy in August 2023 and has regularly featured for the Under-21 side. However, his first-team opportunities have so far ended in disappointment. Despite the heavy defeat, Slot defended his decision to field a young side, saying, 'This club has always used this competition for academy players. It felt to me the right decision and I've not changed my opinion because we lost.'
