Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Premier League - Source: Getty
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Premier League - Source: Getty
Steven Gerrard has urged Arne Slot to bring Liverpool prodigy Rio Ngumoha into his starting XI at the expense of Cody Gakpo following the Reds' 2-1 defeat to rock-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers.
A goal each from Rodrigo Gomes and Andre that arrived either side of Mohamed Salah’s strike saw Liverpool suffer their ninth league defeat of the campaign.
Gakpo played for 65 minutes at the Molineux Stadium, but he failed to influence the game and was substituted for Ngumoha. The latter, meanwhile, offered more in attack in the 25 minutes he spent on the pitch and was unlucky to see one low effort strike the post.
Speaking after the game, Gerrard was unhappy with Liverpool’s performance, branding their display ‘poor’. He then suggested that Gakpo isn’t doing enough, arguing that Ngumoha is doing more as a substitute than the Dutchman does in 60 to 70 minutes.
“For 65 minutes Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor, didn’t create enough, didn’t play at the right speed or the right tempo, didn’t have enough quality,” Gerrard told TNT Sports. “He has to start Ngumoha now. He has to start him because he’s coming on and he’s doing more in a short cameo in a short space of time than Gakpo’s doing in 65, 70 minutes. He deserves to start now. He’s got to start the kid on Friday night [in the FA Cup].”
Ngumoha came through the ranks at Liverpool and made his senior debut as a substitute against Newcastle United in August 2025. In what proved to be a memorable outing, the young winger scored the winner for the Reds in a 3-2 win. So far, Ngumoha has made 19 appearances for the Reds.
Gerrard criticizes Liverpool duo over Wolves’ opener
Gerrard called out Liverpool duo Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate over their role in Wolves’ opening goal. Van Dijk was outmuscled by Tolu Arokodare, who sent a long ball to Gomes to take on Konate and put the ball past Alisson Becker.
While many felt Arokodare committed a foul on Van Dijk in the duel, Gerrard believes there was nothing wrong with the former’s challenge. Gerrard said the Reds captain was too weak in losing the initial duel and also blamed Konate for not putting in enough challenge on the eventual goalscorer.
“I don’t think it’s a foul,” he said on TNT Sports. “He [Van Dijk] has got to be a lot stronger in that situation. I also think that Konate could’ve bailed him out of trouble. He’s gone with the wrong leg trying to put in a tackle. He’s gotta use his long levers and try to wrap his right foot and his right leg around the ball and take ball and man.
“He could’ve bailed out Van Dijk but you’re clutching at straws asking for a foul there. You’re up against big, strong sub who’s come off the bench. He’s the focal point; you know he’s gonna try and dominate you from a physical point of view. You’ve gotta be ready for that. You’ve gotta stand up and be stronger, so I think he’ll be slightly disappointed in himself when he watches that back.”
The result left Liverpool sittting fifth in the table. Arne Slot’s side will face the same opponents on Friday in the fifth round of the FA Cup.