Young Liverpool midfielder Trey Nyoni impressed against Arsenal in the Premier League, with the 19-year-old handed a starting chance ahead of the more experienced Ryan Gravenberch

For much of the game, Liverpool penned Arsenal back inside its own half. And while the Reds could never find a way to beat David Raya in the Gunners' goal, Trey Nyoni did his best to provide a platform.

There were times, in the first half in particular, where Nyoni was the deepest-lying Liverpool player. Both Reds center-backs, plus advancing full-backs Milos Kerkez and Ronald Araujo, were in front of him, with the teenager trusted to kickstart and dictate attacks.

Nyoni, who completed 96 per cent of his passes during his 59 minutes on the field, was taking the ball under pressure, and he was trusted by Andoni Iraola not to give it away. Had his passing not been perfect, given the bold positions he was taking up, Arsenal would have been clean through.

That Nyoni, making his first Premier League start, was so instrumental spoke volumes about the role that he can play this term. With Ryan Gravenberch struggling for form, it perhaps shouldn't have been that much of a surprise that he came in, either.

In the next two matches, both this week, Nyoni should be guaranteed at least one more start. Either in Turkiye against Fenerbahce or at Selhurst Park next Sunday — ideally both, if his body is ready — the 19-year-old should keep his spot.

Indeed, in a way, it was baffling that Nyoni was taken off. Alongside Alexis Mac Allister, he had been the outstanding performer for Liverpool up to that point.

Andoni Iraola might argue that Nyoni was making just his first Premier League start and his minutes needed managing, but Dominik Szoboszlai is a very different player, and the Hungarian didn't have much of a positive influence.

Also coming off the bench, Rio Ngumoha and Victor Munoz made a limited impact in the final third, too, but it was the starting four forwards who needed to show more.

Cody Gakpo, given he was playing in the less natural position of right wing, can be excused to some extent, but Alexander Isak struggled to get involved.

On the left, Bradley Barcola started brightly but faded substantially in the second half, and Florian Wirtz hit the bar but was not as involved as Liverpool needed him to be.

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"I think we've done enough to score but obviously we haven't," Iraola said. "But we hit the crossbar and we had the header of Mac Allister that, for me, is a very clear chance.

"I think we had a clear penalty also for us and I think we've had a lot of situations inside the box — not even around the box, inside the box — that definitely we haven't finished properly."

Nyoni did his part in helping dictate from deep. The next step would have been for those in front of him to find a way past the best defense it will take on all season, who look well set to defend their Premier League crown.