TA: Iraola is optimistic about Nioni, who is expected to stay with the team and achieve a breakthrough in the new season.

Trey Nionni sat in the stands with those who had witnessed his growth.

England U19 team just beat Portugal 6-0 in Victor Braga, and Nioni's father was one of the few parents who stayed to watch the game.

After a long training camp away from his family and three European Under-21 Championship qualifiers, the midfielder clearly enjoyed a few minutes of face-to-face conversation with his father to review his performance and look to the future. He played exceptionally well that day.

It was late March, and Liverpool were still competing in the FA Cup and the Champions League. People hoped that Nioni could get another chance to prove himself before the end of the season. After not starting a first-team match for five months, he returned to Merseyside in better form after playing three games for the U19 team.

However, the last 10 games of the season did not bring him much benefit, while his fellow U19 teammate, Leo Ngumoja, benefited from the opportunities he received at the end of the season.

Ngomoha made 8 appearances, including 3 starts, performing admirably and becoming a focal point in England's pre-World Cup friendly against New Zealand. In contrast, Nioni only played 9 minutes, 7 of which came in the final match of the season.

Nioni made 14 appearances throughout the season, an increase from 5 the previous season, but far from enough to build momentum. Apart from two starts in the League Cup at the beginning of the season, Nioni mostly came on as a substitute towards the end of matches.

With Champions League qualification decided in the final match of the season, it's perhaps not surprising that former manager Arne Sloot insisted on using more experienced players to achieve the goal. However, another perspective suggests that adjustments made when midfielders show signs of fatigue could revitalize the team.

In January of this year, several Championship clubs and other European clubs contacted Liverpool to discuss the possibility of loaning Nioni, but Liverpool needed him as a backup at the time.

A year ago, midfielder Morton, who joined Lyon and had a stellar debut season in France, faced a similar situation. After two successful loan spells, he finally left Anfield, taking a crucial step.

It was initially expected that Nioni would listen to loan offers this summer and await Liverpool's response, but the situation has changed. He is no longer considering a short-term departure and is instead focused on establishing himself at Liverpool. After a fantastic summer, the possibility of moving to another club to start a new chapter has also recently cooled.

If we're talking about who benefited the most from preseason preparation, Nioni is undoubtedly one of them. New head coach Andoni Iraola said after the US tour that the 19-year-old was the team's best performer: "Even when opponents are marking him closely, he still actively asks for the ball and is very confident and doesn't panic. That's very valuable to me."

Iraola admires Nioni's playing style, but whether this will translate into more playing time remains to be seen, as Nioni currently needs consistent playing opportunities. Other clubs have expressed willingness to offer him regular playing time, but his near-term future remains with Liverpool, and the first half of the season will be crucial.

Nioni's context is equally important, and it also helps explain the situation he faced this summer.

He only recently turned 19, so expecting a young player to take over Liverpool's midfield is indeed asking too much. Nioni is physically rather slender, so in addition to his undeniable technical ability, he must work on improving his physical strength.

However, with only 21 minutes of playing time in the Premier League last season, it's hard to say he's paved the way for more opportunities in the future. When Nioni last joined the England U19 team, he partnered in midfield with Harrison Armstrong and Chris Rigg, the latter two having made more appearances for Everton and Sunderland respectively last season.

Arsenal's Max Doman also had more playing time throughout the season, despite missing half the season due to injury. Even Chelsea's Jesse Derry, who was subsequently loaned to Sporting Lisbon for a season, had more Premier League playing time.

In a short period, Klopp, Sloot, and the Liverpool staff have all praised Nioni on numerous occasions. Klopp gave him his first-team debut after signing him from Leicester City in 2023. Now, it's Nioni's turn to prove himself, whether at Liverpool or elsewhere.

Iraola's desire for him to stay is a positive sign. Nioni is a confident player who excels at passing forward, capable of playing as a defensive midfielder and playing a crucial role in orchestrating the team's attacks. With Curtis Jones in talks to leave Inter Milan, Nioni has the opportunity to improve his pecking order and get more playing time.

The experience of training with his senior national team teammates over the past two years has also helped Nioni continue to improve, and his steady upward momentum is poised to lead to a breakthrough.