Analysis from the Kirkby Academy as Liverpool's Under-19s are beaten 1-0 by Real Madrid in the UEFA Youth League
Sport
Rio Ngumoha in action during the UEFA Youth League match against Real Madrid at the AXA Training Centre on November 27, 2024
(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
As someone who has already talked up his Ballon d'Or dream at the age of 16, there's no doubting the ambition of Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha. So with Real Madrid in town, it was no surprise that the winger was keen to put on a show.
On another day, the summer signing from Chelsea might have walked away clutching a handful of assists for his team-mates, but a lack of cutting edge meant the Reds were beaten on the day by their visitors, who triumphed 1-0 through Daniel Yanez's early strike.
Ngumoha is clearly a confident player, so the fact he is operating a couple of years above his own age range in this competition didn't inhibit him. On the contrary, the wideman could be heard demanding the ball at every turn and there were fleas in the ears of Amara Nallo and Trey Nyoni in the first half for not passing when he was in space.
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One pass to Trent Kone-Doherty should have brought the equaliser but the Irish winger stumbled at the decisive moment when closed down by the goalkeeper. If that was unfortunate, another chance in the second was poor, as Ngumoha's teasing delivery was somehow headed back towards the space where Alvaro Gonzalez was occupying when it was easier to nod home into the gap to his right. Kone-Doherty perhaps should have had a brace and both would have been assisted by Ngumoha.
One smart dance inside in the first period saw upended by powerful frontman Jamie Barroso and the only way los Blancos could stop the former Chelsea teenager was to either overcrowd him in twos and threes or to stop him with fouls.
An electric burst down the flank in the second half almost brought parity through Josh Davidson, but his effort was cleared off the line by Victor Valdepenas. Ngumoha showed more than enough here to explain the hype behind him and this was one of his most encouraging displays so far as a Reds player.
A touch more fortune might have brought some assists for the tally but he won't come up against a side as talented as the youth academy of the 15-time European Cup winners every week at least.
There were times, of course, when he opted for the wrong decision and his willingness to dribble with the ball at his feet sometimes led to him overlooking other, better-positioned team-mates in favour of another mazy run.
They are the rough edges that every young player has however, wherever their position, but the early signs are positive in his opening months at the Academy. There's a player in there, all right. Even if public statements about the Ballon d'Or should be put down to the exuberance of youth just now. There's a long way to go yet but this was a small step in the right direction.