It was a standout international break for Liverpool right-back Neco Williams who played starring roles in Wales’ 5-1 victory over Belarus and their 1-1 draw with FIFA’s number-one ranked side Belgium.
Across both matches, the marauding 20-year-old scored from one of his six shots, made five crosses, registered two-shot assists and was successful in eight of his nine attempted dribbles.
Meanwhile without the ball, particularly against Belgium's elite attack, he was presiding and imposing, winning five of his seven defensive duels.
Inevitably, such displays have led to questions about his Liverpool career and lack of first-team opportunities at Anfield.
STEVEN GERRARD: Steven Gerrard reveals Jurgen Klopp text message after landing Aston Villa job
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Liverpool got last laugh over £72m deal after Michael Edwards took action
So far this season, the Welsh international has started just one game for the Reds against Preston North End in the Carabao Cup. Whilst across the Premier League and Champions League, he’s made only two substitute appearances.
His biggest issue is that he sits behind Trent Alexander Arnold in the Liverpool pecking order, and it’s hard to make a case that any right-back across Europe would be able to dislodge the 23-year-old.
Williams could try to take inspiration from Liverpool team-mate Kostas Tsimikas who found himself in a similar situation for almost the entirety of his first season at Anfield.
Robertson’s form at left-back combined with injuries elsewhere meant first-team opportunities were few and far between. This season though, thanks to stand-out performances for Greece and in pre-season with Liverpool, his Anfield career has kicked on.
He was trusted to deputise for Andy Robertson when the Scottish international picked up an injury on the eve of the new season and has since been bestowed regular Liverpool game time, even when Robertson has been fully fit.
Jurgen Klopp now rotates the two on a weekly basis. Perhaps a crucial difference between the two positions though is Tsimikas and Robertson are similar profiles, whilst Williams and Alexander-Arnold aren’t, even if they do play in the same position.
Although the former two are far from carbon copies of each other, both offer similar things on the pitch. They’re strong at driving up and down the left flank and dangerous when swinging quick balls into the penalty area.
In many ways, Williams’ profile shares a closer resemblance to those two than it does with Alexander-Arnold’s who, although a right-back on paper, has a skillset that often sees him perform more like a deep-lying playmaker.
And this is the crux of the issue Williams faces at Liverpool. He’s an excellent young player in his own right, yet a straight swap with Alexander-Arnold would mean a change in the dynamic of Liverpool’s side.
Complicated adjustments would probably have to be made right across the team to make up for the dependency they have on the England international. This will be a big reason why Klopp will rarely look to rotate the two players unless he feels like he has to.
The reality for Williams, then, is that even despite his undoubted potential, regular game time at Anfield looks like it’ll consistently be in short supply, and unless Alexander-Arnold left the club, something that seems almost unthinkable now, that won’t change.
For this reason, despite his ability, it’s tough to foresee Williams’ Liverpool career ever kicking on.
