Liverpool youngster’s nightmare record after red cards in every first-team game

Liverpool teenager Amara Nallo was given a start in defence on Wednesday night but he was sent-off against Crystal Palace meaning he’s been dismissed on his only two appearances

Liverpool defender Amara Nallo was shown a red card just 12 minutes after coming off the bench against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night – and has now been given his marching orders in his only two appearances for the club.

The 18-year-old came on for Alexis Mac Allister after 67 minutes during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup exit at Anfield. He was shown a straight red card on 79 minutes after hauling down Justin Devenny when he was clean through on goal.

It continued an unwanted trend for the teenage defender, who on his only other appearance for Liverpool was also sent for an early shower. He made his senior debut in a much changed side that lost 3-2 to PSV in the Champions League back in January.

That was an evening to forget though with Nallo, who was only on the pitch for four minutes after coming on in the 83rd minute, shown red after he denied a goalscoring opportunity to the Dutch side. It means that Nallo has played just 16 minutes for the Reds’ senior side and twice been given his marching orders.

Arne Slot was pleased to see his two senior defenders – Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate – went straight over to Nallo after he was sent from the pitch to console the teenager.

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The Liverpool boss said: “I didn’t need to say that much. Because another thing which I liked – it’s not the most important thing – but Ibou [Konate] and Virgil [van Dijk] immediately went inside to talk to him. So that tells me that they are great human beings in a moment like this when a young player for the second time is being sent off.

“Maybe the first time after he played against PSV [Eindhoven], I’m not 100 per cent sure, but I think he did – that they feel how difficult that moment for him is, to go inside and be supportive for him. So it wasn’t needed that I took care of him. These two already took care of him.”

Nallo joined Liverpool in August 2023 after coming through the West Ham academy and since then has frequently played for the Under 21 side, but his two opportunities in the first-team have not gone to plan and no doubt set him back.

The teenager wasn’t the only young player to start against Palace on Wednesday. Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha were among those to feature in the heavy defeat, but Slot had no regrets about his selections.

“This club has always used this competition for academy players as well,” said the Liverpool boss. “It felt to me the right decision and I’ve not changed my opinion of that because we lost.”

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