Fresh off thrashing Tottenham 4-0 in the semi-final second leg midweek to book their place in the Carabao Cup final, Liverpool continue their quest for another Wembley date when they head to Championship strugglers Plymouth Argyle.
Manager Arne Slot is expected to ring the changes in order to keep top players fresh for their pursuit of a quadruple, with the Reds comfortably atop the Premier League standings, looking strong in the Champions League’s inaugural league phase and reaching the final of one of the two domestic cups they’re pursuing.
And one of the young prospects expected to feature in the Southwest of England has a particularly interesting story.
Exciting right-back Isaac Mabaya has been compared by many to one of the club’s greatest in-house products, Trent Alexander-Arnold. Mabaya has also emulated TAA’s path through the Academy ranks, finding his feet at RB after beginnings in central midfield.
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Isaac Mabaya age, nationality, background
Mabaya is 20 years old and has represented England at under-15 through under-19 level, but recently declared for Zimbabwe though his parentage. Though called up for FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers against Rwanda and Nigeria, Mabaya has yet to make his senior debut for the country.
Has Isaac Mabaya debuted for Liverpool?
Mabaya has yet to make his Liverpool senior debut as of February 8, 2025. He was called up to the first-team squad for their recent conclusion to the UCL league phase against PSV Eindhoven, but didn’t feature.
However, local media in the Liverpool area have reported that Mabaya was pulled from plans for the under-21 game Friday evening between the Reds and Southampton, which appears to indicate that he will be in the squad for the FA Cup game at Plymouth.
Will Isaac Mabaya play against Plymouth?
Whether he starts or is named to the bench on Sunday, mind you, remains to be seen. But local journalists believe that this will be his chance to shine.
During 2022 preseason friendlies, Mabaya looked ready as a teen to break through. However bad luck with injuries have set back his progress considerably.
Now, media report he looks ready to make up for lost time, and his biggest competition for the RB slot in Slot’s likely change-filled XI vs. Argyle, Jarell Quansah, appears likely to play at CB.
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