Rio Ngumoha is only starting out as a Liverpool player, and that should excite you.
The 17-year-old has left us speechless with some of the brilliance he has displayed in limited minutes on the pitch this season.
Fans want Ngumoha starting for Liverpool, seeing the electricity and directness he offers as a wide attacker as an upgrade on what we have seen from Cody Gakpo.
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Florian Wirtz form for Liverpool
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Arne Slot is hesitant to throw the young star in with the sharks, but if he keeps progressing at this rate, he might leave his manager with no choice.
Liverpool coaches hugely impressed with Rio Ngumoha’s physical development
Even last season when Ngumoha was just 16, he didn’t look out of place in the senior team.
His staggering pace and fearless attitude cause all sorts of problems for opposing defences, and he’s adding another facet to his game.
A report from The Mirror claims coaches at the AXA Training Centre have been blown away by his development. Ngumoha is ‘flying’, and they are seeing him get ‘physically stronger with each session’.
Rio Ngumoha before Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - Premier League
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They relay the idea that the ‘accomplished’ finish that gave Liverpool a last-gasp win over Newcastle is ‘typical’ of his work in front of goal.
Sure, Ngumoha doesn’t need to be rushed into the first-team picture, but at what point does this talent become too good for the bench?
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From everything we know about Slot, it’s hard to imagine he starts Ngumoha in those decisive Champions League fixtures that could come in the months ahead.
What a deep European run would mean for the winger is that there would be a much bigger need for rotation in the games either side of the midweek action.
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Players will need to be rested, including Gakpo, and that could open the door for a more prominent role for the teenager.
Ngumoha will be an elite Premier League player. It’s tempting to want to rush that process, but he’s showing all the signs of getting there sooner rather than later.
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