Liverpool Icon
Liverpool FC News
Transfer News
Rio Ngumoha## Liverpool coach Andoni Iraola opted for a notable change for Rio Ngumoha in Wednesday's preseason clash against Wrexham with potentially incoming signing Bradley Barcola in mind
02:38, 30 Jul 2026
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola is edging closer to a Liverpool move(Image: Getty Images)
In the second game of Liverpool's preseason, new coach Andoni Iraola opted for a seemingly benign change: he flipped Rio Ngumoha and Kieran Morrison's positions forwards.
Against Sunderland last Saturday, Ngumoha lined up on the left — just as he did exclusively for former coach Arne Slot last campaign — and Morrison started on the right. But when Iraola subbed both on against Wrexham at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday in New York, the two youngsters switched flanks.
It seemed a clear hint the Spanish manager is cognizant of the club's transfer business. On Wednesday, it was widely reported that the Reds were preparing an initial bid of around £100 million ($120 million) to Paris Saint-Germain for winger Bradley Barcola.
Barcola, 23, played almost exclusively on the left last season for PSG. With his colossal price tag, the French international will surely expect to start a majority of games. Barcola scored 34 goals over the last two seasons with the Parisians, helping the side capture back-to-back Champions League trophies.
Ngumoha, 17, was dazzling against Wrexham. He's never shy to take on a man — he averaged more dribbles per 90 in the Premier League than any first-team regular, including Jeremy Doku of Manchester City — and showed it on Wednesday.
Rio Ngumoha
Rio Ngumoha was virtually unplayable against Wrexham on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)
In the 75th minute, the young English international carried into the Welsh side's box and saw his deflected shot nestle past Callum Burton in the Wrexham goal.
Ngumoha appeared in 19 Premier League matches for SLot a season ago, starting five and scoring twice, including a famous winner against Newcastle last August.
Content cannot be displayed without consent
To earn more game time, he may have to occupy the vacant starting spot on the right wing occupied by Mohamed Salah for the last nine seasons.
Sky Sports posted a question to X on Wednesday: "Is Bradley Barcola the player to replace Mo Salah at Liverpool?" Longtime Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher disagreed.
"No, he plays on the opposite flank!" the ex-Reds star noted. "LFC currently [has] three players who could play from the left in Rio/Gakpo/Wirtz & no one who plays from the right"
Article continues below
A Liverpool front line featuring Barcola, Florian Wirtz, and Ngumoha underneath a striker would be both incredibly small and lightweight. But with Iraola demanding both pressing and chaos — two staples of the lengthy Jurgen Klopp tenure — maybe some shifty dynamism will prove to be the answer.
Either way, expect the dynamic Ngumoha to be a key part of IRaola's side next season.
Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool FC Pre-Season
Liverpool FC
Transfers
Andoni Iraola