When Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool welcome Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to Anfield this Sunday, there will be plenty to play for with both managers looking to close the gap on Man City in top spot in the race for the 2026/2027 Premier League title.
Navigating a dense autumn schedule, both coaching staffs have fully fast-tracked their finest young talent pool into the first team set ups.
Iraola will be keen to secure a statement home victory against title rivals, while Arteta will be looking to overcome significant squad absences—including Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, and secure Arsenal's first Premier League win at Anfield since 2012.
With reference to data by Fotmob, Striver.Football profiles the five players you should watch this weekend:
Liverpool
Trey Nyoni
Age: 19 years old
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 6 apps | 151 mins played | 92% passing accuracy
Why Watch Him: The 19-year-old technical midfielder continues to flourish as the ultimate deep progressive engine within Liverpool's central layout.
Nyoni handles high-friction pressing triggers with an eerie composure, boasting a pristine 92% passing metric in top-flight action. Operating as an advanced No. 8 or box-to-box facilitator, his capability to turn on the half-turn under Arsenal's forward press will determine Liverpool's distribution safety.
Rio Ngumoha
Age: 18 years old
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 6 apps | 170 mins played | 3 UCL apps | 2 UCL Assists | 87% dribble success
Why Watch Him:
The 18-year-old English wide attacker is enjoying an explosive breakout cycle, recently etching his name as Liverpool's youngest-ever European debutant.
Ngumoha plays with breathtaking, touchline-stretching confidence on the left flank. Fresh off a masterclass substitute appearance against Villarreal where he logged two critical Champions League assists before another impressive display against Brighton, his unpredictable 1-v-1 isolation acceleration will be Iraola's primary weapon to test the Gunners out wide.
Lewis Koumas
Age: 21 years old
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 6 apps | 3 UCL apps | 1 UCL Goal | 1 UCL Assist
Why Watch Him: The 21-year-old Welsh international forward brings relentless vertical threat and immense physical work rate to the frontline. Koumas is a direct, intuitive attacker who loves crashing standard defensive channels.
Having already found the back of the net in Europe against LASK earlier this autumn, his aggressive positioning inside the box will keep Arsenal's reshuffled backline under constant stress.
Arsenal
Myles Lewis-Skelly
Age: 20 years old
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 6 apps | 405 mins played | 94% passing completion
Why Watch Him: The 20-year-old English youth phenom continues to execute structural changes with immense maturity.
Deployed regularly by Arteta as an inverted left-back and in central midfield, Lewis-Skelly routinely drifts inside to give Arsenal a numerical advantage in the midfield pivot. His elite 94% passing accuracy under heavy duress will be fundamental to helping the visitors escape Liverpool’s home-crowd press traps.
Cristhian Mosquera
Age: 22 years old
Verified 2026/27 Stats: 2 apps | 169 mins played | 97% pass accuracy | 10 clearances
Why Watch Him: Although he has not featured in the Premier League since August following his injury and subsequent integration of Ezri Konsa to step up for William Saliba, the towering 22-year-old Spanish center-back is still needed in some capacity.
Mosquera perfectly couples old-school physical imposition (191 cm) with a near-flawless 97% passing completion rate. Clocked as Arsenal’s fastest player this season at 34.8 km/h, his recovery pace and aerial dominance will undergo the ultimate trial against Liverpool's rapid transitions, even as a right back option.
Key Lessons for Young Players & Academies
Versatility is Key: Talent alone does not keep young players in Anfield starting lineups. Defenders like Cristhian Mosquera balance aerial dominance and physical imposition with rigorous positional discipline under high pressure.
Value Press Resistance in Central Areas: Midfielders like Trey Nyoni and Myles Lewis-Skelly excel because they make sound decisions under pressure, maintaining 90%+ passing accuracy rather than forcing low-percentage vertical balls.
Maximise Impact Minutes: For wide options like Rio Ngumoha, entering as a second-half substitute requires immediate intensity, using high-speed 1-v-1 dribbling to force backlines onto their heels from the first touch.
