Liverpool teenager Amara Naro was given a start in defense on Wednesday night, but his red card against Crystal Palace means he has been sacked after just two appearances.
Liverpool defender Amara Naro was shown a red card just 12 minutes after coming off the bench against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, giving him his marching orders after just two appearances for the club.
The 18-year-old came on as a 67th-minute substitute for Alexis Mac Allister in the Carabao Cup at Anfield on Wednesday. In the 79th minute, he was shown a straight red card after bringing down Justin Devennie who went clean through in front of goal.
The unwelcome trend continued for the teenage defender, who was forced to take an early shower in his only appearance for Liverpool. He made his first-team debut in a much-changed side that lost 3-2 to PSV in the Champions League in January.
However, this night was an unforgettable night. Naro was on the pitch for just four minutes after coming on in the 83rd minute, but was given a red display for not giving the Dutch side a chance to score. This means Naro has been given his marching orders twice after playing just 16 minutes for the Reds’ first team.
Arne Slott was delighted to see two senior defenders, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate, quickly make their way to Naro after he was sent off the pitch to console him.
read more: Arne Slott accused of engineering Liverpool’s young players to fail in Carabao Cup exitread more: Arne Slott gives honest view on job security at Liverpool after joining ‘not good enough’
“I didn’t need to say that much, because the other thing that I liked, and that’s not the most important thing, was that Ibou (Konate) and Virgil (van Dijk) went in right away and talked to him. So in a moment like this, when a young player gets sent off for the second time, you see what great people they are,” the Liverpool manager said.
“Probably for the first time after he played against PSV (Eindhoven), I’m not 100 percent sure, but I think he felt. They feel how difficult that moment is for him to go in and support him. So there was no need for me to take care of him. These two were already taking care of him.”
Naro joined Liverpool in August 2023 after coming through West Ham’s youth ranks and has played frequently for the Under-21s ever since, but his two first-team chances have not gone to plan and he has undoubtedly suffered setbacks.
The teenager was not the only young player to start against Palace on Wednesday. Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngmoha were among the players included in the heavy defeat, but Slott has no regrets about his choice.
“This club has always used this competition for academy players as well,” said the Liverpool manager. “I felt like it was the right decision for me, and losing doesn’t change my mind.”
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