Nigerian Pair Ruled Out Of Liverpool's Reunion With Rafa Benitez

Nigerian pair Bobby Adekanye and Ovie Ejaria might not be in contention to travel with the Liverpool squad for their Premier League encounter against Newcastle United at St James' Park on Sunday afternoon.

The talented teenagers started for the Reds in their opening game of the Premier League Cup against Charlton Athletic on Friday night, with Ejaria going the distance and Adekanye involved for 74 minutes, which has effectively ruled them out of the tie against the Magpies.

Manager Jurgen Klopp gave everyone a hint that Ejaria is now down the pecking order for a place in the Liverpool first team after making three appearances off the bench from a possible eight during pre-season.

The former Arsenal schoolboy recorded eight appearances for the Reds first team over the course of the 2016-2017 campaign, logging 429 minutes.

As for Adekanye, the Ibadan-born winger has been stringing together a run of appearances for Liverpool U23 and U19 teams in the last three weeks, and was only missing from the 18-man squad against Tottenham Hotspur.

The 18-year-old impressed against Charlton Athletic U23s on Friday, and two Addicks players Mascoll and Maloney were booked for fouling the tricky winger.

Igho Kingsley