Liverpool sold Neco Williams this summer and he is already earning huge praise with new club Nottingham Forest.
It was always going to be hard for any Liverpool right back to break into the side beyond Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Alexander-Arnold has become one of the top right backs in world football and Williams found himself on the fringes as a result.
The Welsh international was always going to be on the fringes of the Liverpool side with Alexander-Arnold in the mix, but did show potential in the Reds setup.
After a strong loan move to Fulham in January, the time ultimately came for Williams to leave Anfield for good this summer.
Liverpool sold Neco Williams this summer
The Reds fielded plenty interest in Williams before Nottingham Forest pounced with a £17million deal.
Forest’s Welsh boss Steve Cooper was keen to sign his compatriot and secured an impressive move after sealing promotion to the Premier League.
Djed Spence excelled as Forest’s right wing back last season but he returned to Middlesbrough before being sold on to Tottenham Hotspur.
That means Williams should play plenty of first-team football this season – ideal ahead of the World Cup later this year.
Williams started for Forest on Sunday afternoon as they beat West Ham United 1-0 at the City Ground.
Taiwo Awoniyi’s fortuitous goal was enough to win it, though West Ham will feel they should have taken at least a point out of the game.
Forest fans won’t care one bit as they secured their first win since returning to the top flight, with Williams playing a key role.
Pundit and former Forest ace Jermaine Jenas spoke on Match of the Day 2 on Sunday night and picked out Williams as the man of the match.
Jenas suggested that Jenas was ‘absolutely brilliant’, believing that his passing will make him a big influence on the Forest side – even if he stopped short of an Alexander-Arnold comparison.
Jenas added that this was a ‘top, top display’ from Williams, backing him for a big season in a Forest shirt.
“Absolutely brilliant,” said Jenas. “This lad, he’s already had an influence in a Forest shirt. These passes, I just love to see in a wing back area. We saw glimpses of it obviously when he was in the Liverpool side, and I don’t want to go too early on the Trent-esque type stuff, but he is so forward-thinking.”
“It was all-round a top, top display. He had the most touches of any player on the pitch, the most crosses, the most tackles, it was a really, really strong home debut for him and he’s going to be a big influence on this team,” he added.
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