Rio Ngumoha and Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)placeholder image
Rio Ngumoha and Liverpool boss Arne Slot. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rio Ngumoha produced a man-of-the-match performance in Liverpool’s FA Cup victory over Wolves.
Arne Slot says that Liverpool will endeavour to ensure that Rio Ngumoha can be prepared to become a regular Liverpool starter in the future.
The 17-year-old winger is the Reds’ most exciting prospect. Signed from Chelsea, Ngumoha has made hurtling progress and his influence has grown this season. After several impressive substitute cameos in recent weeks, including the 2-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League earlier this week, the youngster was handed a chance from the outset for the rematch against Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round at Molineux.
Ngumoha delivered a dazzling performance in the 3-1 victory and was voted man of the match. Liverpool have high hopes for the England youth international, who became the club’s youngest goalscorer when netting the winner at Newcastle United last August.
Slot is nurturing Ngumoha, with the Reds keen to ensure that he does not suffer any injuries. But the hope down the line will be for the teenager to feature frequently during busy fixture schedules. And that is what Slot insists Liverpool are working towards.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the Anfield head coach said: “A good performance. He was even better than when he came in three days ago. 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 one-v-one situations.
“That is something you don't see a lot in modern football. A good performance from him and that's special if you are 17 years old and can impact a Premier League game - I know it is an FA Cup game but two Premier League sides - in this manner.
“That shows he has a lot of qualities. But on the other side, there is another player, Mo Salah, who he has to take as an example of. 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 are going to work on very hard with him to make sure he can go to those levels.”
Then adding to reporters at his post-match press conference: “If you're then able already to impact it with some very good one-v-one situations; that is also what makes him special because there are not many players in the modern football that can take one-v-ones on. That's something he can. He also - in my opinion - did better than three days ago because he kept the ball more. Three days ago he lost it a few times as well. So, three days ago he also had his impact with his actions.
“Today he had it as well but was even better in moments where he had to keep the ball. [It's a] nice game because you face five defenders. For a winger, you only have to go to one of the three centre-backs, or defensively you don't do to have to do as much as when you face four defenders. It was also a nice moment for him to use all his energy for the attacking part and not having to defend as much as when you have to do that when you play against the four at the back.”
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