Liverpool finally put an end to their recent three-game losing streak across all competitions last night, with a hard-fought 2-0 win over Fulham on Merseyside.
Arne Slot’s men produced a workmanlike display to secure all three points, with the result bolstering the club’s hopes of finishing in the Premier League’s top five.
The Reds are now four points ahead of Chelsea before their clash with Manchester City this afternoon, with their hopes of securing Champions League football in their own hands.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates after the match
Numerous players rose to the occasion at Anfield on Saturday, including Mohamed Salah, who found the back of the net with a trademark curled effort into the far corner.
However, it was the performance of one other Reds star that got the supporters talking and rightfully so given his tremendous performance against the Cottagers.
The stats behind Rio Ngumoha’s display against Fulham
After a countless string of substitute appearances in recent weeks, winger Rio Ngumoha was handed a rare chance to impress from the off during the clash against Fulham.
The 17-year-old is a player who has been generating huge excitement within the Liverpool fanbase, with the fans getting another look at his talents last night.
ngumoha-liverpool (2)
He featured for 69 minutes of the contest on Merseyside, producing numerous incredible stats and catching the eye with his continuous attacking quality.
Ngumoha managed to net his second Premier League goal of the season during the victory, subsequently finding the bottom corner with a superb curling effort.
He also managed to make two dribbles into the final third, whilst finding a teammate with 100% of the crosses he attempted - arguably being the side’s biggest attacking threat.
Ngumoha display may have repercussions for Liverpool star
Over the years, Liverpool have been blessed with countless attacking talents, but the club’s frontline has significantly declined after the departures of Sadio Mané and Roberto Firmino.
Cody Gakpo has been operating off the left-hand side of the attack in recent months, with the Dutchman switching to a centre-forward role against Fulham.
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The decision was ultimately made to allow Ngumoha to flourish off the left-hand side - a decision that proved to be the right one given his impressive strike.
As a result, the Dutchman could now struggle to regain his starting role under Slot, with the Englishman deserving of a consistent run of starts in the Premier League.
Whilst the 26-year-old will likely drop down the pecking order as a result, which could be further bad news for Federico Chiesa, who will likely become the third choice.
The Italian, who joined for a fee in the region of £10m in 2024, has massively failed to deliver since his move to Anfield, with many questioning his impact at the club.
He’s racked up 47 senior appearances across all competitions, but he’s only scored on five separate occasions - highlighting his lack of impact within the final third.
Liverpool's Federico Chiesa
Like Gakpo, he’s struggled for consistency under Slot as of late, with the 28-year-old only featuring for 25 minutes in the league since the start of March.
However, his underlying stats from the ongoing campaign demonstrate his struggle, with Ngumoha a player who could end Chiesa two-year period on Merseyside.
The former Juventus star has only managed to complete 71% of the passes he’s attempted - subsequently ranking him in the bottom 8% of forwards in the division.
Federico Chiesa - PL stats (2025/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Games played
Games started
Goals & assists
Pass accuracy
Chances created
Dribbles completed
Duels won
Fouls committed
He’s only created 0.9 chances per 90 so far this term, whilst completing just 18% of the dribbles he’s attempted - also ranking him in the bottom 7% of players in the Premier League.
Chiesa has struggled to get past his opponents over the last couple of months, as seen by his measly tally of 37% duels won - the second lowest of any player in the squad.
Federico-Chiesa-1
The aforementioned stats produced by the Italian in recent times highlight how disappointing he’s been for the Reds, with his lack of action certainly warranted.
However, the impressive display of Ngumoha against the Cottagers yesterday will only limit his game time further, with the teenager needing an extended run of starts in the games ahead.
At just 17, he’s certainly the future of the football club, with Slot desperately needing to put faith in the youngster to help him reach the heights he’s capable of.
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