Rio Ngumoha was once again the toast of the Liverpool fanbase on Saturday after scoring a brilliant goal to open the scoring against Fulham.
The 17-year-old was surprisingly named in the starting XI for only the second time in the Premier League, and duly repaid Arne Slot’s faith by curling in a terrific effort.
After seeing some mesmerising stuff from Ngumoha this season, the goal was not a surprise to anyone inside Anfield on Saturday, and according to former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman, it would have been exactly what ‘everybody’ within the club would have expected as well.
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Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring for Liverpool during their Premier League match against Fulham at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/ANDY BUCHANAN /AFP).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Andy Buchanan/AFP
Liverpool think Ngumoha is a ‘superstar’ – McManaman
There was a big claim ahead of the game on Saturday in which Ngumoha insisted that he can win the Ballon d’Or within the next decade.
Although that is big talk for such a young player, he backed it up on the pitch immediately.
McManaman is well-placed to comment on Ngumoha, with the former winger regularly involved at the Liverpool academy.
And while on punditry duty for premierleague.com, the Scouser reacted to the youngster’s goal by saying that there is belief within Liverpool that Ngumoha is a supreme talent.
Liverpool v Fulham - Premier League
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
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“He’s a little superstar,” McManaman said. “They’ve been patient with him, everybody knows how talented he is within the club.”
It has been clear from the moment he arrived at Liverpool in 2024 just how good Ngumoha can become.
As he continues to grow into his skin with the Reds, Saturday felt like a watershed moment where the rest of the footballing world begin to realise what those within Liverpool have known all along.
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