Rio Ngumoha has admitted he is eyeing the iconic Liverpool No. 11 shirt, having grown up watching two footballing legends excel with the number on their back.
Ngumoha is only 17 years old but is already being talked up as boasting the potential to become a Liverpool great.
As a 16-year-old breaking into the squad he was randomly assigned the No. 73 shirt, a number he says now ‘holds a special place in his heart’.
While the most recent elite player to break through from the academy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, kept his No. 66, Ngumoha has his eyes on changing during his career.
3E80PGB Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Fulham in Liverpool, England, Saturday, April 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
The left-winger told Sky Sports: “Seventy-three holds a special place in my heart, obviously the first number I received. It was just random.
“But my dream number would be 11. Watching Neymar play for Barcelona and Mo (Salah) obviously has broken all the records with No. 11.”
Dreaming of the No. 11
While several legends have worn the No. 11 over the years for Liverpool, before Salah it was only really Graeme Souness and possible Jamie Redknapp who had made the shirt their own.
However, in the post-Salah world, it will become one of those famous numbers, like No. 7 and No. 9, that players will covet.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Monday, August 4, 2025: Liverpool's number 73 Rio Ngumoha during a pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Athletic Bilbao at Anfield. Liverpool won 4-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
With the Egyptian leaving this summer, Ngumoha is keen to take his teammate’s mantle in the coming years and recalled his first impressions upon meeting Salah.
“I was excited. I watched them play Forest last season at home and then I got an opportunity to train with them a couple of weeks after,” Ngumoha said.
“Seeing Mo, he has achieved basically everything in football. He’s very friendly as well. Sometimes people forget that they’re just people as well.
“Obviously they have all the fame but they are just nice people and you learn a lot from them.”
Of course, Salah plays on the opposite flank to Ngumoha, but there are still several similarities between their games.
Asked what advice Liverpool’s senior winger has passed on, the 17-year-old responded: “One time after training he told me the top, top players, along with your ability they also get goals and assists.
“Obviously he has broken many records, so him saying that to me and saying he knows I’m a good player but to get to the next level just add the goals and assists.”
As mentioned, though, Salah isn’t the only No. 11 Ngumoha looks up to; Neymar is another inspiration.
“Watching him as a kid on YouTube, seeing him play for Barça and PSG, he’s not just a winger, he’s an attacker,” said Ngumoha of the Brazilian.
“He can play left wing, No. 10, right wing. He was just sensational. 100 percent [I looked up to him].”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha applauds the Anfield crowd as he is substituted off during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If Ngumoha can achieve half of what Neymar and Salah managed then he will have had a decent career.
Though the youngster has lofty ambitions, with his sights set on the Ballon d’Or in the future, he can take another lesson from Salah that perhaps Neymar wouldn’t have passed on.
To succeed at Liverpool he will need to work hard. No player is allowed a free ride and as promising as his performances have been, there have been times when he has left his man to run freely at Liverpool’s backline.
Ngumoha could go on to be great, legendary even, but he will only do that by taking a leaf from Salah’s book of commitment.