A big portion of the Liverpool fanbase felt vindication at long last on Sunday as Rio Ngumoha delivered a barnstorming cameo against Nottingham Forest.
The youngster’s brilliantly ballsy wing play has seen a renewed clamour for him to start Saturday’s game against West Ham.
The argument is that with Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah misfiring, Ngumoha‘s ability to induce panic within the opposition make him a better option for Arne Slot.
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Florian Wirtz form for Liverpool
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However, Slot has always been consistent that the 17-year-old is a player to be used from the bench in the Premier League, and despite constant calls for him to revise that strategy, he really must hold firm.
As Daniel Sturridge said, Ngumoha was ‘electric’ against Forest and his potential is undeniable, but where is the need to heap even more pressure on his young shoulders? Liverpool may be struggling, but the likes of Gakpo and Salah retain the right to have their chance at answering back to his Forest brilliance. Both should play on Saturday.
Liverpool must see the long-term vision with Ngumoha
As they battle to get into the Premier League’s top four, there is obviously a desire from Liverpool fans to do whatever is working right now.
While that is generally a good approach, it is one which does not do much for the longevity of the career of bright young prospects.
Rio Ngumoha for Liverpool against Nottingham Forest, with Arne Slot behind him
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Liverpool were faced with a similar situation in 2022/23, when Stefan Bajcetic quickly became a fulcrum in Jurgen Klopp’s midfield. From nowhere, the then 18 year old was thrust into the rough and tumble of playing men’s football twice per week.
Although Bajcetic did brilliantly from a footballing point of view, his body could not hold up and he has now missed the last seven months with a hamstring injury. Prior to that he sat out of virtually the whole 2023/24 campaign as he tried to play catch up.
The odd start here and there is perhaps not going to harm Ngumoha, but at the same time Liverpool should not be having to rely on a 17-year-old to win Premier League matches. Slot knows that, and it is why Ngumoha is much more suited to being introduced off the bench.
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Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo
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Liverpool have enough to beat West Ham
The main argument for starting Ngumoha against West Ham is that he is offering more than both Gakpo and Salah on the Liverpool wing.
Although that was the case on Sunday, the two senior pros should have had the fire lit underneath them from seeing the fallout from Ngumoha’s display.
The reaction should have hurt both players and made them even more determined to set the record straight against the Hammers. Putting Ngumoha into the starting XI would be unnecessary and could potentially have a negative impact on whoever is dropped.
As the teenager is not going to be playing week in, week out, Slot has a responsibility to keep the harmony within the Liverpool squad. If that leads to the Reds dropping points on Saturday, then things may have to change. But, right now, we are not at that stage.
In some respects, there is not even any use in debating this particular selection issue. Slot is not going to start Ngumoha and nor should he. Anyone suggesting otherwise needs a reality check.
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