Rio Ngumoha took centre stage as he helped set Liverpool on their way to three points, with Andy Robertson getting a front-row seat to watch the teenager impress
Rio Ngumoha scored Liverpool's opener with Andy Robertson hugely impressed by his development
Rio Ngumoha scored Liverpool's opener, with Andy Robertson hugely impressed by his development
View 2 Images
Andy Robertson has hailed Liverpool sensation Rio Ngumoha and backed the teenager for a big future after he ignored his calls during their 2-0 win over Fulham - only to go and score instead.
The experienced Scot, who has announced he'll leave Anfield in the summer, returned to his left-back role and played behind Ngumoha, who himself was given a rare start. The 17-year-old has impressed whenever he's been given an opportunity and again grabbed the headlines.
Ngumoha scored the opener as Liverpool saw off the west London outfit, bolstering their Champions League hopes in the process. He cut inside and curled home an impressive effort - all whilst turning down the offer of Robertson's support run.
The teenager also helped lay on a goal for Mohamed Salah. Robertson has seen Ngumoha continue to improve on a daily basis and is convinced he'll go on to enjoy a stellar career.
The defender told Sky Sports: "He's unbelievable. It just shows you sometimes don't listen to the experienced players, I was screaming at him to say that I'm coming on the overlap.
"Then he just goes and cuts inside, it's a great finish, great performance by him. He just keeps learning and listening, he's such a good kid. Him and Trey [Nyoni] are a pleasure to work with and they listen to all the lads. You can just see them improving all the time. He's got a big future ahead of him, but here and now is pretty good as well."
Ngumoha has enjoyed several breakout moments this year, starting with a stoppage-time winner against Newcastle back in August. The teenager again put in an impressive performance when he was given an opportunity in an FA Cup win over Wolves. And now there are calls for the youngster to get a shot against PSG.
The teenager curled home a brilliant opener
The teenager curled home a brilliant goal(Image: Getty Images)
View 2 Images
Ngumoha's fearless nature has attracted plaudits and Slot believes his willingness to take on opponents in a skill rarely seen in the modern game.
The Dutchman said: "He has such a special quality which you don’t see a lot in football anymore: dominating the one-v-one situation. And 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."
Of Ngumoha's 23 outings this season, only six have come as a starter. Two of those have come in the Premier League, with the teenager largely used as an impact substitute.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of MirrorFootball content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
World Cup Legends - special edition on sale now
There is nothing like the World Cup to create legends and this new special edition publication celebrates the heroes of the planet's greatest sporting competition