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I want to show everyone what I can do for Liverpool – NgumohaImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer earlier this seasonByAadam Patel
As Liverpool made their way out of the City Ground on Sunday, Rio Ngumoha was keen to talk.
He may only be 17 but already there are signs that the maturity he has on the pitch relates to his off-pitch behaviour too.
Such was his impact in Liverpool’s win at Nottingham Forest – including playing his part in Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed goal after replacing Mohamed Salah in the 77th minute – that he earned praise all around.
“Top drawer. Changed the game for them. A winger that wants to beat his man and deliver with a mix of speed and finesse,” reported ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge added: “Every time I watch Ngumoha, he looks electric. Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes. Simple as that.”
More minutes is what Ngumoha desires. Until now, the teenager has been restricted to just 89 minutes in the Premier League despite being in the squad for all the games except one. And he’s determined to show everyone his capabilities.
When he came on against Forest, was the mindset to make a statement?
“Yeah, I know I need to at least do something to try to impact the game, whether that’s on the ball or off the ball. That can be putting in a tackle, pressing to win the ball back, putting balls in the box, having shots on target or just beating my man,” reported Ngumoha.
“I just think every single time I’m called on for the team, I want to show everyone what I can do really.”
When Ngumoha scored a dramatic 100th-minute winner at Newcastle in August and became Liverpool’s youngest goalscorer, there was a feeling externally that he would be seen more frequently this season.
Yet Slot has managed his game-time, with the teenager who Liverpool poached from Chelsea in 2024 only starting in the EFL Cup and FA Cup so far.
When Luis Diaz left for Bayern Munich last summer, Liverpool opted to create a pathway for Ngumoha rather than going for Bradley Barcola or Malick Fofana.
Given the recent struggles of Cody Gakpo, who has played more minutes than any Liverpool forward this season, Ngumoha perhaps deserves a chance down his preferred left flank.
Down the right, Salah has gone nine Premier League games without a goal, and it was down that side where Ngumoha impressed on Sunday.
“Hopefully [more game-time] soon, just keep pushing and gaining the manager’s trust and hopefully that leads to more minutes,” insisted Ngumoha, who has continued playing at academy level in recent weeks.
Last weekend, the day after he had a goal wrongly disallowed against Brighton in the FA Cup, Ngumoha scored a screamer against West Brom at U21 level.
He reported: “I feel like if you are not playing as much then you can stagnate, so I want to gain more minutes – whether that is Under-18s or 21s – I am still so young, so I am available to play, so any games I can play, I will.”
The case from Slot and Liverpool is that there is no doubt about his talent and his ability to take players on but there is precaution given his age.
The plan is to manage his workload and be “careful”, as Slot says. Ngumoha has two days of training a week where he is off the pitch.
There is a focus on building his physicality too and improving his off-ball work for the challenges of the top-flight, be that game understanding or his defensive instincts.
Very few teenagers are equipped technically, physically and mentally to play at the highest level straight away and Liverpool are getting him ready to be a key part of their side for the near future – but are keen not to rush things.
“The manager is very important to me and he helps me a lot,” reported Ngumoha.
“We might have a meeting after training and he tells me how well I am doing, to keep going, showing me clips. All of that is important and helpful.
“I think it has gone really well. I am learning a lot every day playing and training with some of the best players in the world. I can’t ask for much more as a young kid. So I just think I need to carry on proving, working hard in training and showing what I can do to the manager.”
Ngumoha has played more games than anyone under the age of 18 by a distance this season. But those 89 minutes would rank him 55th in Premier League history in terms of minutes played before turning 18.
Gareth Barry and Wayne Rooney, for context, had more than 2,000 Premier League minutes before turning 18.
Rooney himself predicted Ngumoha to be the breakout name in the league this season and the clamour for him to start more is only growing. His time can’t be far off now.
At a recent Adidas event in Manchester, Ngumoha named Jeremy Doku, Noni Madueke and Salah as the three wingers he loves to watch. Three players who have a reputation for taking on their man.
“If the opportunity is there to take on the man, I’ll do that any day of the week,” Ngumoha reported on Sunday.
The way he played and the way he spoke, he is keen to do that week in, week out for Liverpool.
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