Jamie Carragher has called for Rio Ngumoha to be utilised more often by Arne Slot after doing what no other Liverpool wide player has done this season, “go at his full-back.”
Slot’s regular wingers, Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah, combined for just one chance and one shot on Sunday, and neither completed a successful dribble before they were hooked after 77 minutes.
Ngumoha, meanwhile, was successful in two of his three attempted dribbles (joint second-most) and created one chance during his cameo off the bench.
In the immediate aftermath of the win, Carragher said on Sky Sports’ commentary: “Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that. He changed the game and needs to be starting games.”
His fearlessness to take on the opposition is a direct contrast to Gakpo and Salah seeking to cut inside, while his pace is a luxury that Slot does not have elsewhere.
What Jamie Carragher had to say about Rio Ngumoha starting for Liverpool
In a further assessment of Ngumoha, Carragher said: “Rio Ngumoha does something here [in the build-up to the disallowed goal] I haven’t seen a Liverpool wide player do all season, go at his full-back, commit him and put real quality into the box.”
He added: “I think at some stage, Rio Ngumoha has got to come into the team, or he may have to go with another midfield player or lose a Gakpo or a Salah.
“I think Liverpool’s penetration and pace in the wide areas is really lacking.”
Like the majority, Carragher acknowledged that Ngumoha should not be starting every week, but that he should be utilised more effectively and often than he currently is.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, January 12, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha is met with head coach Arne Slot (L) after being substituted off during the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Barnsley FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“I hope Mo Salah is not laughing about the fact that he doesn’t think he should have come off,” Carragher continued. “Listen, he had a poor game, so did Gakpo.
“They’re finding it really tough in the wide areas right now in terms of pace and penetration, and that’s why that young lad, not that he should start every week, should be seeing more than what he is now.
“I think he’s got a little bit more than that (being an impact sub).
“There’s no doubt he’s a really special talent and he shouldn’t be playing every week at that age, but Liverpool have a real dearth of quality in wide areas right now.”
Arne Slot’s assessment of Rio Ngumoha’s substitute performance vs. Forest
As for how Slot viewed the teenager’s performance, the head coach noted that he is “making progress” and is developing the strength needed to compete at Premier League level.
“He’s making progress more and more and that’s why lately you see him playing more and as well,” Slot told reporters in his post-match press conference.
“He gets stronger. Apart from his moment where he had that one-v-one, there were also one or two other moments where he showed that he stands his ground.
“That is, of course, what you need because you face 25, 26, 27, 28-year-old athletes mainly as your opponents.
Alexis Mac Allister scored Liverpool’s last-gasp winner at Nottingham Forest. Feb 22, 2026 (Nick Potts/PA)
“We’re a bit of an exception in terms of the age of our group of players, most teams we face have players of different ages and different physicality.
“For him to show this already at 17 years of age says something about his talent.
“But as we all know, talent is only the start of a career and you need so many other things, as we’ve shown today; Macca [is] a great example about mentality. That is something you need to get a career at this level.”