Liverpool teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha has reacted after his record-breaking winning in the Premier League at Newcastle United on Monday evening
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha(Image: LFC TV)
Rio Ngumoha has revealed the advice given to him by the coaching staff at Liverpool that helped him become a Reds record-breaker. Ngumoha became the youngest goalscorer in the club's history when he stepped off the bench to net a dramatic injury-time winner and earn a 3-2 Premier League triumph at Newcastle United on Monday evening.
The winger, who only turns 17 on Friday, had been introduced for his top-flight debut just four minutes earlier with Liverpool having thrown away a two-goal lead against their 10-man hosts.
Ngumoha's moment came when he arrived unmarked at the far post to convert a low cross from Mohamed Salah that had been dummied into his path by Dominik Szoboszlai.
And the teenager explained: “Normally, last season especially, the Academy coaches and the first-team coaches are always saying ‘make the back post, make the back post'.
“The fact that I made the back post is just crazy. When I saw it with Mo and then Dom putting it through his legs, I was like one-v-one and I just smashed it.
"I think Dom just knew I was there. He said to me in the changing rooms 'I just hoped you were there!'. I backed myself to score. It was just crazy.
“The fans, I heard them screaming my name and that’s a sensational moment I would say.
“But you can’t get too carried away with all the noise because at the end of the day I probably do that finish 100 times on the training ground so it’s no different with the fans (here). But obviously the fans backing you here, it’s just crazy."
Recalling the moment he was given the call from Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Ngumoha added: "It was crazy. He looked at me and pointed at me and said get ready. You just have to come on and make an impact and luckily I did that. It was just a proud moment.
"I’m buzzing! I’m so happy to score, especially the winner. A good moment, a special feeling, I’m definitely happy."
Ngumoha, an arrival from Chelsea 12 months ago, has already raced through the Academy ranks and made his senior debut in the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley back in January before impressing during pre-season.
But the youngster knows he has a long way to go before establishing himself as a regular in the first-team squad.
“I’m 16 but I don’t want my age to show that I can’t play with the older players," he said to liverpoolfc.com. "I want to prove a point that I can play with not just people my age but many ages above.
“There are people at the club who are always helping me and I’m always learning and improving, so I can’t complain.
"(I'm) learning from them and training with them every day. You learn so many things, such as how professional they are and what they have done to reach the top level. I'm learning from them every day, it's special. I just have to keep going.
"I hope it's the first of many goals, but it's back to training tomorrow. I have to prove once again to the manager what I can do."