Ex-Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was left impressed by one Reds man as Alexis Mac Allister scored a late winner for Arne Slot's side against Nottingham Forest
19:04, 22 Feb 2026
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge.(Image: Daniela Porcelli/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge was left in no doubt about Rio Ngumoha after watching him against Nottingham Forest, declaring the teenager ready for a more prominent role.
Ngumoha helped force the winning goal at the City Ground and looked strong in his cameo off the bench, though it remains to be seen when he will feature again as the Reds battle Chelsea and Manchester United for a place in the Champions League spots.
"Every time I watch Rio Ngumoha, he looks electric," Sturridge posted on social media. "Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes. Simple as that."
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Ngumoha has played a part in nine Premier League games so far this season, but Liverpool has been very careful not to put too much pressure on his body, given his youthfulness.
"He has incredible potential, otherwise at 17 years of age you don't play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool," Arne Slot said at the City Ground.
"I don't think there's any other 17-year-old that has played so many minutes this season in the Premier League as he did.
Rio Ngumoha during a Liverpool training session.
Rio Ngumoha during a Liverpool training session.(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
"I don't think there is an 18- or 19-year-old maybe that played so many minutes as he did, but that last thing I'm not 100 percent sure about.
"So that tells you how much of a talent he is and we think he is. He's making progress more and more and that's why lately you see him playing more and as well.
"He gets stronger. Apart from his moment where he had that one-v-one, there were also one or two other moments where he showed that he stands his ground.
"That is, of course, what you need because you face 25-, 26-, 27-, 28-year-old athletes mainly as your opponents. We're a bit of an exception in terms of the age of our group of players, most teams we face have players of different ages and different physicality.
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"For him to show this already at 17 years of age says something about his talent.
"But, as we all know, talent is only the start of a career and you need so many other things, as we've shown today — Macca [is] a great example about mentality. That is something you need to get a career at this level."
Liverpool.com says: Ngumoha is a really strong option to bring off the bench but it is understandable that the Reds are being careful with him. Overplaying him would be a mistake, even if there is short-term gain.