Arne Slot has explained why Rio Ngumoha was substituted against Chelsea after the decision was greeted with loud boos at Anfield.
Ngumoha was Liverpool’s brightest spark against his former club, completing the most dribbles (4/5) and having the joint-most touches in the box (4) of any Liverpool player.
He was withdrawn after 67 minutes as Slot turned to Alexander Isak, and Anfield responded with loud boos to the decision amid the team’s struggles to create any goalscoring opportunity.
Slot explained after the match, though, that Ngumoha had cramps three minutes before he was taken off and signalled to the bench that he “wasn’t completely ready to continue.”
“I don’t think it was some of them,” Slot said of Anfield’s boos. “There were a lot that didn’t agree with that change, which I completely understand if you just look at how he played.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha is greeted by head coach Arne Slot (R) and first assistant coach Sipke Hulshoff (L) as he is substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But it does make sense if you know that three minutes before he goes to the floor to the ground, with having problems with his muscles.
“And then when I asked him, he said, ‘No, not sure if I can continue’.
“Then the idea was, maybe not to take him off, but when he gave the signal that he wasn’t completely ready to continue, then it makes complete sense.
“But I knew this would have been a reaction, because he’s such a popular figure. He played a good 65-70 minutes.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, May 9, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha is replaced by substitute Alexander Isak (L) during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“But yeah, it’s so often in football, people don’t know everything, and that’s how it works.
“But it is what it is, and the manager needs to make decisions. And sometimes people are happy with them, sometimes they don’t, and today, clearly they weren’t.
“Maybe knowing why now, it makes more sense for everyone.”
In his post-match press conference, Slot insisted Ngumoha was not injured but that he no longer had the capacity to operate at 100 percent, while Ibrahima Konate was also said to have suffered from cramps.