Arne Slot believes Rio Ngumoha is “ready” to start a game of the magnitude of Tuesday’s Champions League decider against PSG – but is unsure whether he will.
Ngumoha marked his third start in eight games with a first-ever Anfield goal as Liverpool beat Fulham 2-0 to secure fifth place in the Premier League for the weekend.
It has led to calls for the 17-year-old to start against PSG in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night – and Slot has not ruled it out.
Join TIA YouTube
Subscribe to This Is Anfield on YouTube
Join over 370,000 subscribers to get the latest LFC videos to your feed
“Yeah, I think he’s ready,” he told reporters in his post-match press conference, when asked if Ngumoha could be in contention.
“Now the question of course is can he do this two days later again? Would he be able to play and perform at that level?
“I play him because I see him as one of the players we have. It’s not like he’s ‘less’.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates with team-mate Andy Robertson (R) after scoring the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“In the beginning of the season he was a young player getting his experience with the first team, but now he’s just someone I can pick for any game. So also the one for Tuesday.
“But I think in general – that’s not to say about Tuesday – expecting from a 17-year-old that he can play three games in seven days, you could question if that’s realistic, especially for the ones that were there in Paris and saw that intensity.
“That’s almost too much for every player, as you noticed today in my lineup that I was aware how intense three days ago was and how intense three days from today will be again.”
Still, with Liverpool needing magic to overcome a 2-0 deficit against the European champions, there is a convincing case to argue that Ngumoha should keep his place on the left wing.
It would give Achraf Hakimi more to worry about than Milos Kerkez did while operating as a left wing-back in the first leg – and could even limit how often the Moroccan vacates his position.
“He has such a special quality, which you don’t see much in football anymore, dominating the one-vs-one situation,” Slot said of Ngumoha.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“That’s exactly what he did when he scored his goal. Making the ball free by twisting and turning and then hitting it in – like a Mo Salah finish, I would say!
“It’s something I’m not surprised to see, because in training sessions during the last month we saw more and more that he got more and more power to hit the ball as powerful as he did today.
“That’s why he’s now had three starts in the last seven or eight games. Wolves, Tottenham and this one.
“Pleasing to see that he did what we know makes him special.”
Join This Is Anfield Premium
If adverts aren’t your thing, we appreciate you becoming a Premium member