Neco Williams picks perfect time to prove haters wrong
Liverpool starlet Neco Williams had an excellent game against Wolves.
The 19-year-old has played the last three Premier League matches in a row and put in 90 minutes in back-to-back Champions League games.
He’s nowhere near the finished article and last season’s excitement about the Welsh international was possibly a little premature, but the defender is starting to prove the haters wrong.
Neco Williams has a complicated history with fans and took himself off social media due to the abuse he received following one underwhelming performance.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is back on the field and Williams might find his playing time reduced now, but the strength of his performance should be counted in the youngster’s favour and should allow Alexander-Arnold to be rested more frequently than he has been.
Fans were back in Anfield for the first time since the restart and they were given a glimpse of what Williams can do in the flesh, which should help fix his slightly odd reputation among Liverpool twitter.
Williams picked up a yellow card after just three minutes but played the rest of the game with maturity and a mentality that’s above his tender years and experience. With only 20 senior appearances under his belt, the 19-year-old managed the rest of his time on the field superbly.
Goal journalist Neil Jones tweeted that Williams was ‘robust’ and ‘solid’, two words you wouldn’t normally associate with the callow full-back who’s better known for being fine moving forward but suspect at the back.
The progression of the right-back from the Academy to the first team has been extremely pleasing to watch. Jurgen Klopp’s trust in the Welsh international is a major signal of the ability and potential Williams has, and we’re now seeing that on the field.
Next. Liverpool player ratings vs Wolves: Firmino is back, Gini sparkles. dark
With Curtis Jones, Rhys Williams and Caoimhin Kelleher doing well, we’re beginning to see a flourish of youth talent.