Teenager Rio Ngumoha’s ‘special’ impact no surprise to Liverpool boss Arne Slot

LIVERPOOL – Arne Slot said teenager Rio Ngumoha is ready to be thrown into any situation after scoring his first Anfield goal in a 2-0 English Premier League win over Fulham on April 11, which eased the rising pressure on the Liverpool boss.

He had already netted his first Premier League goal with a late winner away at Newcastle United in their second game of the season. The English winger is now also the youngest Reds player at 17 years seven months to score a Premier League goal at Anfield.

Despite a difficult campaign, Slot has largely resisted the clamour to rely on Ngumoha as a game-changer. But he has started three of their last eight games, with Slot encouraged by his physical development and “more end product”.

That faith was rewarded as Ngumoha produced a sublime strike to erase Raheem Sterling’s previous mark from 2012 as Liverpool’s youngest home league scorer. He made space with a couple of stepovers before curling a rocket into the far corner in the 36th minute.

Mohamed Salah then netted in his first home appearance since announcing he will leave at the end of the season, as Liverpool snapped a three-game EPL winless streak.

Salah now has 108 Premier League goals at Anfield, with only Thierry Henry (114 at Highbury) netting more at a single venue in the competition’s history.

“He has such a special quality which you don’t see a lot in football any more, dominating the one-v-one situation and that’s exactly what he did when he scored his goal,” said Slot on Ngumoha’s impact.

“I’ve said a few weeks ago that his playing time will increase because he got stronger and stronger, showed more and more when he came in (to games), but also in training sessions.

“That it wasn’t only a nice trick, but there was more and more end product to what he did.

“There was more and more power, which is needed if you play against the best defenders in the world and I don’t think anyone is surprised that, at this moment in time, he scored his first goal (at Anfield).”

Liverpool fullback Andy Robertson called Ngumoha “unbelievable”.

“(The goal was) a great finish, great performance by him,” the Scot told Sky Sports. “He just keeps learning and listening; he’s such a good kid. He’s got a big future ahead of him, but here and now is pretty good as well.”

Liverpool face a much stiffer test at home on April 14 if they are to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit against holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Slot, though, believes Ngumoha is ready for that elite level, even if he is unsure whether the teenager will be fresh enough to start.

“I think he’s ready. The question, of course, is can he do this two days later again?” Slot added.

“In the beginning of the season, he was a young player, getting some experience with the first team, but now he’s just someone I can pick for any game. So also the one on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, Fulham boss Marco Silva told the BBC: “Disappointing result, punished by the first half.

“The statistics of the game was balanced in terms of shots, chances, it was very balanced. We had chances that we didn’t score. We were not ruthless enough.”
AFP, REUTERS