Rio Ngumoha impressed Arne Slot during his time on the pitch for Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the Dutchman wants the teenager to become a ‘good’ player on a consistent basis.
After weeks of multiple pundits like Steven Gerrard saying Ngumoha needs to start more, Slot gave the teenager his chance in the FA Cup.
The Liverpool Academy product did not disappoint and was one of the top performers in the 3-1 win over Wolves, but the Reds coach now wants to work with the youngster to ensure he can start performing at a high level every three days.
Who was YOUR Man of the Match in Liverpool’s win over Wolves? 😁
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team's second goal with teammate Dominik Szoboszlai and Andrew Robertson during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Liverpool will work ‘very hard’ to make Rio Ngumoha consistently good
Slot was asked about Ngumoha when speaking live on TNT Sports shortly after Friday’s clash came to a close.
He used Mohamed Salah as an example of a consistent top performer and urged Rio to emulate him, saying Liverpool will now work ‘very hard’ with him to ensure he can reach that level.
Slot said: “Kept the ball really well, was a threat constantly. A player that as we know because we don’t see him for the first time, is able to beat his man in 1v1 situations, and that’s something you don’t see a lot in modern football.
“Good performance from him, that’s special if you’re 17 years old and can impact a Premier League game, I know it’s an FA Cup game but two Premier League sides, in this manner, shows that he has a lot of qualities.
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“But on the other side there’s a player in Mo Salah who he has to take an example of because being a good player is not so difficult, but being a good player every three days over a long, long period of time, that is something we’re going to work on very hard with him to make sure he can go to those levels.”
Jermaine Pennant questions if Rio Ngumoha will actually start more for Liverpool now
While Slot’s comments do suggest we will now see more of the teenager on a regular basis, Jermaine Pennant doesn’t seem completely certain that will be the case.
Liverpool are next in Premier League action on March 15, taking on Tottenham Hotspur with a lot on the line for both sides.
Discuss: Arne Slot will NOT start Rio Ngumoha against Tottenham… ❌
Arne Slot and Rio Ngumoha during Wolverhampton Wanderers v Liverpool - Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
Credit: Robbie Jay Barratt/AMA/Getty Images
And taking to X/Twitter on Friday evening, Pennant sent a clear message to Slot about starting Ngumoha in that tie.
He wrote: “If Rio doesn’t start against Spurs next game, then Slot has truly lost his marbles with this team. Rio has done more in 65 mins than Gakpo has done in 2026! But on a brighter note, very happy to see Writz back.”
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