Chelsea’s draw at Anfield against Liverpool was quite clearly a battle of two sides struggling for form and confidence. But if one player stood out, it was Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha.
Enzo Fernandez’s free-kick found its way into the back of the net in the first half. It was Chelsea’s second Premier League goal in seven games, cancelling out an opener from Ryan Gravenberch just 13 minutes in.
Who was your Man of the Match vs Liverpool?
Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Both sides saw goals disallowed through England midfielders Cole Palmer and Curtis Jones. Ultimately, it was a game that deserved to end in a draw, but both sets of fans will feel their side could have won.
Chelsea went into the game without any options out wide. Estevao, Pedro Neto, Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens were joined on the sidelines by Jesse Derry, leaving Calum McFarlane short of wingers.
Chelsea fans impressed by their academy product Ngumoha
Just as Chelsea are struggling for options out wide, it was typical that Liverpool lined up with a Chelsea academy product on their flanks. Rio Ngumoha, still only 17, made his 28th Liverpool appearance.
Ngumoha impressed, but the winger was taken off to a chorus of boos from Liverpool supporters. Slot made it clear after full-time that Ngumoha had signalled he was injured to the home dugout.
Liverpool v Chelsea - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
The teenager left Chelsea in 2024 to join Liverpool’s academy, one of a handful of promising young talents to choose a different pathway to Premier League stardom since BlueCo came to the Chelsea helm.
Chelsea fans were impressed by the Liverpool youngster’s performance, many of whom wished that they had Ngumoha in a Blues shirt, especially with such an extensive injury list on the flanks in West London.
I believe that if Ngumoha stayed at Chelsea, by now he will be our starting left winger, especially this season we have no reasonable LW.
Yet, I keep hearing he made the right decision to join Liverpool, where Gakpo starts ahead of him. pic.twitter.com/VpFFbTSOVI
— Vince™ (@Blue_Footy) May 10, 2026
View Tweet
Another posted on X following the draw that Ngumoha is a “talented winger, wish he stayed”. Clearly, Blues fans feel it was a mistake to let such an exciting young gem leave the club just under two years ago.
One fan even suggested he would be “starting ahead of Garnacho” if he was still in a Chelsea shirt. That perhaps says more about the Argentine than Ngumoha himself, with many disillusioned with Garnacho.
Others simply said “he’s so damn good”, while some believe that despite wanting Ngumoha at Stamford Bridge and having been impressed with his performance, “he made the right decision” to leave Chelsea.
BlueCo’s five-year plan is now hurting Chelsea’s academy success
Another issue with BlueCo’s tenure is portrayed in Ngumoha’s rise through the ranks at Chelsea, before opting to chance his arm at Anfield. The multitude of young players signed is now blocking pathways.
Chelsea are spending millions on players with no connection to the club. Ngumoha, by contrast, was born in London. A player with immense potential, already proving himself in the Premier League at Liverpool.
QUARTER-FINAL 3: Which Chelsea player has had the best season?
Instead, Chelsea have blocked his path into the first team and Ngumoha has reacted by jumping ship, which has proven to be a good move given he is now regularly in and around the first team at Liverpool.
Not only are BlueCo plunging the club into debt, spending incredible amounts of money on players that are struggling to realise their potential, when they had a London-born option in Ngumoha all along.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Chelsea content each week direct to your mailbox