Neco Williams is a player that possesses immense quality but his light was often dimmed during his time with Liverpool due to the presence of Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The Welsh international joined Liverpool’s academy in 2007 and made 33 appearances in the first team after progressing through the ranks.

As many right-backs at Liverpool have found in recent years, gametime is limited due to the brilliance of Alexander-Arnold.

Neco Williams was a player who deserved regular first-team football and as a result pushed for a move to a club that would offer him that.

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Williams enjoyed a successful spell with Fulham during the second half of the 2021/22 season and attracted the likes of Nottingham Forest who signed him in the summer of 2022.

Initially struggling to get the gametime he required during the early stages of his Forest career, Williams has since become a key player in Nuno Espirito’s side, as they continue to surprise everyone with their ongoing push for Champions League football.

A Premier League champions with Liverpool in 2020, Neco Williams has shared how he snubbed Manchester United in favour of a move to Merseyside.

A decision that was largely disliked by his family, who happen to all be United fans.

Speaking to Nottingham Forest’s website, he said:

“I started to go to Liverpool and Everton sessions, and they were the two most interested in me.

I was still playing for Manchester United at that time too, training with both teams.”

“All my family are United supporters, so everyone thought I would choose them, but I chose Liverpool.

It’s hard to remember exactly why, but I think it came down to where I felt most comfortable and at that time it was Liverpool.”

Initially helping Nottingham Forest avoid relegation, Neco Williams went on to explain that he was lured in by the ambition of the club, and that is now clear to see as they push for a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition next season.

The right-back’s career could have looked very different.

A decision that he has clearly benefitted from in the long-term as he is enjoying his football in England’s topflight.

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