Image Credits: Imago Images
Liverpool’s dramatic 1-0 smash-and-grab win at Nottingham Forest on Sunday was largely forgettable – until Rio Ngumoha entered the fray. The 17-year-old replaced Mohamed Salah in the 77th minute and immediately injected the pace, directness and fearlessness that had been sorely missing from Liverpool’s attack all afternoon.
Ngumoha created the chance that led to Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed goal before the Argentine struck again in the 97th minute to seal the points. His cameo sparked a wave of fan reaction online, with supporters insisting the teenager “did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did all game”. Jamie Carragher echoed that sentiment on Sky Sports, declaring Ngumoha “needs to be starting games”.
With Salah now enduring a nine-game Premier League goal drought, pressure on Arne Slot to shuffle his wide options is only growing
However, with all the fan sentiment growing on Rio Ngumoha to start over Cody Gakpo and/or Mohamed Salah, Lewis Steele of the Daily Mail has given an explanation on why Arne Slot is so hesitant to give him minutes.
It is claimed that the Dutch manager is worried about any potential physical problems with the teenager:
“The former Chelsea lad would play more if not for his tender age. Slot is keen to not ask too much, too soon and pay the price with Ngumoha not being ready physically,” Steele wrote.
“But surely it is now time for Ngumoha to get his first Premier League start?”
“It is hard to praise the youngster without it looking like criticism of the other wingers, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah. Neither of them, in recent months at least, have been at their best.”
And that is probably the tightrope Slot is trying to walk right now – protecting a special talent while a restless fanbase demands to see more of him, and soon.
For a club built on backing fearless youngsters, though, it feels like only a matter of time before Ngumoha stops changing games from the bench and starts doing it from the first whistle.
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