Ngumoha is navigating minutes outside his ‘natural position’
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool breaks away from Lewis Hall of Newcastle United during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St. James's Park in Newcastle, on August 23, 2026. (Photo by Michael Driver/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Rio Ngumoha discussed refining his game under new leadership.
Liverpool leapt at the chance to claim the talented teenager from Chelsea in the summer of 2024, and he grabbed a last-minute winner against Newcastle United just over a year later. A second Premier League goal came against Fulham in April 2026, and he was a brighter light in a season of struggle.
·‘I think it's healthy competition’
The 18-year-old netted both times from his favoured left flank, where he was primed for minutes even with Cody Gakpo staying at Anfield. Now record signing Bradley Barcola is also in the mix, and head coach Andoni Iraola is asking the player to accept playing time on the right side of the field.
It will be a learning curve for the player, who appreciates that this task can give him more assets.
“In pre-season [ Andoni Iraola ] was just getting his ideas across to me and the team and what he wants. For me, he wants me to be direct on the ball. He knows my qualities and if I can just get at a man quicker and help put a ball in the box or get a shot off, then that's my job really. Then off the ball as well, you have to work off the ball, whether it's tracking a full-back and stuff. It's been good.
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“I think on the right I've been all right. It hasn't been my natural position but every day on the training pitch I'm just trying to improve and get better on the right. If I can play both sides then it gives the manager to think that, 'OK, Rio can play on the left and the right and he can do both positions well, so he can help the team.' We have a lot of players now like me, Cody Gakpo , Victor Munoz and Bradley Barcola and they're trying to get us all to play off both sides, which is good.
“I think it's healthy competition [on the wings.] In the games if they score it gives you a drive as well to help the team score. If we're getting results then at the end of the day, we all play for the team and we all want the team to do well. I think just having that competition is there, it keeps us on our toes as well because you can't get too complacent. It's really good.”