Andoni Iraola has already shown that he is not afraid to put trust in Liverpool’s young players if his established names are under-performing.

Ryan Gravenberch has already felt the sharp end of this, with the Dutchman losing his place to Trey Nyoni, who has justified Iraola’s decision to give him more minutes in midfield this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai should not play vs Crystal Palace

Along with Gravenberch, Szoboszlai has not been in especially good form this season, failing to kick on from an excellent campaign last term.

On Wednesday, with Florian Wirtz on the bench, the Hungarian was tasked with playing as Liverpool’s attacking midfielder, but he could not create anything at all.

Szoboszlai has also played poorly as part of Iraola’s double pivot, and does not look particularly suited to the way the head coach wants to play. Liverpool cannot afford passengers as they look to avoid a third consecutive defeat, and their illustrious No. 8 feels like that right now.

Wirtz is in better form, and after a rest against Fenerbahce he should come straight back into the XI. Meanwhile, Nyoni deserves to keep his place alongside Mac Allister, in a pair which gives Liverpool better balance in midfield.

The only consideration here could be that Nyoni may not be quite ready to start three games in the space of a week, but Szoboszlai is also just returning from injury, and if it is a straight toss-up between the two, then the youngster should definitely get the nod.

Nyoni should be part of Liverpool’s best XI

Iraola looks like he is keen to pick Liverpool’s team on merit, rather than star power. While this is could be bad news for Szoboszlai, it will have the reverse effect for Nyoni, who should stay in the team as long as his standard remains high.

Finding the right balance should be Iraola’s main concern at the moment, and although leaving Szoboszlai out after giving him a bumper new contract is obviously not ideal, if that is what is best for Liverpool, that has to be what happens.

The Reds are currently a better team when Nyoni is in it, and while Szoboszlai fails to nail down his best role in Iraola’s system, the teenager has done it easily.

Starting him has not led to success for Liverpool in each of their last two matches, but it is important that Iraola tries to keep rhythm in his team as much as possible. Chopping and changing has been necessary to contend with the fixture list, but it has not helped the Reds get results.

With Palace in poor form, Liverpool are likely to have plenty of the ball at Selhurst Park. Szoboszlai can help, certainly, and there will be room for him to come off the bench and try to weave some magic, but for the Reds to have the best chance of controlling the game and coming out with a much-needed win, Nyoni should go again in South London.