Liverpool were abject for large parts of their recent Premier League match against Nottingham Forest, but they still got the job done and remain competitive in the fight for a Champions League position.
Only a few months ago, the beleaguered champions would have been bowled over by Forest's physicality. In fact, in November, the Sean Dyche-led side left Anfield with a 3-0 win.
Now, in-form West Ham United come to Merseyside. With the Hammers in 18th place, they are going to use every trick in the book to take something from Arne Slot's side.
And while Liverpool are improving, injuries have been unkind to them, with Florian Wirtz ruled out of contention for the second game in a row.
The latest on Florian Wirtz's injury
Wirtz, 22, has been under the spotlight since signing for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a £116m deal last summer. In the early knockings of the campaign, he was scrutinised and slandered, though he has made pleasing progress since the festive period.
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz
However, Wirtz was injured in the warm-up at the City Ground last weekend, and Slot has since confirmed that the German playmaker will be absent against West Ham too.
Given that the Hammers are likely to establish the low block that Slot hates so much, this is a big concern, and one which needs a clear, impactful solution.
Curtis Jones flattered to deceive in the role last time out, while Dominik Szoboszlai is otherwise engaged as a makeshift defender. Alexis Mac Allister can play in a more advanced midfield role, but he'll surely be needed alongside Ryan Gravenberch at the heart of the field.
However, Slot will find that there is a star in his first team who could do a job in a new role at number ten, and it might just be the difference-making decision that wins Anfield a tricky fixture in the Premier League.
Slot could unleash Liverpool's new Coutinho
Liverpool are certainly going to lose some of their sparkle with Wirtz out, and sparkle has been in short supply this season.
Wirtz has returned to Liverpool that silky playmaking presence from attacking midfield, something that hasn't quite been there since the days of Philippe Coutinho.
Former Liverpool player Philippe Coutinho.
However, he could find the club's new version of that Brazilian maverick in Rio Ngumoha, who is desperate to earn his first Premier League start and is making all the right moves as he fights for that goal.
Slot does not have the luxury of choice. With Szoboszlai still required at right-back, Wirtz's absence is a big blow, but in the lively Rio Ngumoha, he might just find a left-field option to play from the outset against West Ham.
Rio Ngumoha for Liverpool
While there have been calls for Ngumoha to replace Cody Gakpo, who has only scored two Premier League goals across the last four months and has routinely faced criticism for his one-dimensional attacking play this season, the current injury problems that the Reds are beset with may preclude the rotation that fans are hoping to see.
But there's no question that Ngumoha offers something different, direct, fleet-footed and ferocious.
Indeed, pundits such as Jamie Carragher even felt that Ngumoha did more in less than 20 minutes of action than Gakpo and Mohamed Salah achieved across the duration of the match.
NFFC 0-1 LFC: Gakpo vs Ngumoha
Stats
Minutes played
Goals
Assists
Touches
Shots (on target)
Accurate passes
Chances created
Crosses
Dribbles
Ball recoveries
Tackles
Duels won
Though Ngumoha is principally a wide player, he is powerful and willing to win duels and get stuck in. Moreover, he has featured as a centre-forward for Liverpool's academy, and for Slot to play him in Wirtz's place on Saturday would certainly disrupt West Ham's preparations.
The 17-year-old scored the winning goal at St. James' Park back in August and has started to make waves with his recent displays. Now is surely the time to let him off the leash, with Liverpool's leading wide forwards leaving much to be desired.
Ngumoha and Gakpo could even interchange, with the Dutchman's creativity and experience perhaps seeing him move centrally during more compact situations.
In any case, Ngumoha has the quality to make a difference, and against West Ham, he could prove he deserves to be among the first names on the teamsheet.
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