Virgil van Dijk has known Rio Ngumoha is ‘special’ for a while and was aware that his importance to the Liverpool squad would grow quickly.
One of the few plus points at Anfield this season has been the 17-year-old, with many pundits now calling for Ngumoha to start more games.
The Liverpool gem is doing more ‘than Gakpo and Salah’, which will not come as a surprise to Van Dijk, who backed the Academy product to become ‘important’ for the Reds ‘in the near future’ just seven months ago.
If Gakpo and Salah aren’t to blame for their poor form, then who is? 🤔
Slot was quick to move any blame away from Gakpo after being asked about one goal in nine games…
Cody Gakpo before Leeds United v Liverpool - Premier League
Credit: Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Virgil van Dijk backed Rio Ngumoha to become ‘important’ for Liverpool in August 2025
Speaking about Ngumoha in August 2025, Van Dijk said: “He’s brave, quick, raw, still only 16 years old, I think he turns 17 soon but still it’s very special, isn’t it?.
“If you turn it around and think where I was at 16, but that is how things work. We want him to improve, we want him to develop, stay fit and learn from the best and be playing at the highest level.
“Hopefully he can be important for this club and hopefully in the near future.”
While Van Dijk has certainly been proven right about the teenager cementing himself as an important player, even he probably didn’t expect his rise to be so rapid.
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Trey Nyoni in action during Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool celebrates at full-time following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park
Credit: George Wood/Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images
Ngumoha is outperforming Kylian Mbappe for chances created per 90 this term, as well as every single one of his Liverpool teammates.
And this is where the problem lies for Arne Slot. After spending £450m in the summer, the Reds should have been once again challenging for the league title this term.
However, their form has taken a dive and their senior wingers, in particular, are struggling.
Gakpo has scored one goal in his last nine matches, while Salah has found the back of the net once in 10 Premier League games, which included him enduring his longest-ever goalless run in the top flight for the Reds (nine).
In an ideal world, Ngumoha would be slowly integrated into the first team, but the poor form of the aforementioned stars means the clamour for the youngster is growing with each passing match.
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