Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has every faith in Trey Nyoni as the 19-year-old looks set for his first Premier League start.
The teenager put in a composed display in the 6-3 Champions League win over LASK in midweek, and with Ryan Gravenberch suspended and Dominik Szoboszlai still struggling with a hamstring injury, it is likely he will line up alongside Alexis Mac Allister at Brentford.
Nyoni has made a total of 26 appearances since his debut in February 2024, 10 of which have been as a substitute in the top flight, but after playing 85 minutes on his first Champions League start in the midweek win over LASK, Iraola has no doubts about the youngster's quality.
"Trey is a player that I think is very young with not a lot of minutes in the first team, but is very mature, he understands the situation very well, he understands the game very well and tactically he is very smart," said the Basque.
"But he has to continue doing the steps in the right direction, I am confident with him.
"He has been involved in most of the last games but he has to keep this level of performance, of training, he has to play as a six, as an eight, he has to play one minute, he has to start and play a game like LASK, putting pressure on the other midfielders.
"It is very good for us that we can put in these young players with not a lot of experience and they can perform in a competition like the Champions League or the Premier League."
Liverpool are currently in a run of six games in 18 days and so Iraola knows he will have to call on Nyoni regularly.
"In this period, especially, where we are basically playing every three days, less than three days, you need more players," he said.
"That's why we changed the team [midweek] and we need to change again at the weekend and change again when we face Villarreal in another three days.
"We will need everyone in one moment or another, everyone has to be ready because we will need him probably.
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"But this is the challenge of playing, no? It's competitions like the Champions League and it's not going to just happen this week, it is going to be a constant thing this season so we have to adapt.
"We have to be ready. The same way it was a quick turnaround after Manchester City, this is going to be a quick one, the next one, we have like four that are just two days in between games. That is not normal but has happened this time and we have to adapt to these circumstances.
"I expect everyone to be at their best mentally and physically because, Brentford, you cannot play comfortable against them, we know this, so we have to be ready for a battle."
