By Graham Ruthven
He may not have scored or assisted, but Rio Ngumoha made a case for himself in Liverpool’s FA Cup win over Wolves. And a case for all the fans who have been clamouring for more game time from the 17-year-old who has been, for the most part, held back by Arne Slot this season. That might have been a mistake.
Ngumoha was electrifying at Molineux. No player on the pitch made more successful dribbles. He had the most touches in the opposition box too, posing a consistent threat down the left side until Slot substituted him off after 69 minutes. Liverpool could have used some of this quality earlier in the season.
Of course, Ngumoha is still only 17 and Slot is right to protect him. History is full of youngsters who have been expected to produce too much too soon. And yet Ngumoha has given every indication that he is ready for more game time. Slot is surely considering starting him in more matches.
Liverpool’s attack has been a contradiction this season. On paper, they boast some of the most formidable forwards in the Premier League. Hugo Ekitike has enjoyed an excellent maiden season after joining from Eintracht Frankfurt last summer. Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah have also combined for 17 goals in all competitions this term.
And yet there have been many times this season when the defending Premier League champions have been lifeless in the final third. While Liverpool boast the highest average possession share of any team in the division, their Expected Goals (xG) ranks as only the fifth highest.
Too often there is a disconnect between Liverpool’s forward line and the rest of their team. Florian Wirtz has found form after a slow start to life on Merseyside, but still hasn’t settled into a specific role. When Slot uses the German as a number 10, he limits Dominik Szoboszlai. As a left winger, though, Wirtz likes to cut inside anyway.
The xG leaders in the Premier League
Ngumoha, on the other hand, gives Liverpool some much-needed verticality when he plays on the left side. The teenager is excellent in one-on-one situations and can create something out of nothing on the ball, as he demonstrated more than once in the FA Cup victory over Wolves.
What’s more, Ngumoha and Andy Robertson appeared to have a natural understanding beyond anything Milos Kerkez has been able to develop with Gakpo or Wirtz ahead of him this season. Not only was Ngumoha a threat, Robertson contributed a goal and an assist, rolling back the years in an eye-catching performance.
Not since Raheem Sterling’s breakthrough have Liverpool had such an exciting homegrown attacker impact the first team like this. Ngumoha might have spent much of his academy years at Chelsea, but Liverpool supporters have already embraced him as one of their own. Some are unhappy Slot has started Ngumoha in only a handful of cup games.
“The manager is very important to me and he helps me a lot,”said Ngumoha when asked about his relationship with Slot and the first team opportunities he has been afforded by the Liverpool manager so far this season. “We might have a meeting after training and he tells me how well I am doing, to keep going, showing me clips.
“All of that is important and helpful. I think it has gone really well. I am learning a lot every day playing and training with some of the best players in the world. I can’t ask for much more as a young kid. So I just think I need to carry on proving, working hard in training and showing what I can do to the manager.”
Liverpool face a defining stretch in their season, starting with the Champions League last 16 tie against Galatasaray. While the Reds are firm favourites to make the quarter-finals, the Turkish giants demonstrated by eliminating Juventus in the last round their capacity for an upset. Victor Osimhen in particular will be a danger.
The defence of last season’s Premier League title was effectively over before it even began, but Liverpool could still enjoy success in the Champions League and FA Cup. To do that, though, Slot might have to find an extra dimension in the attacking third, and this is where Ngumoha has plenty to offer.
Slot’s Liverpool are a work-in-progress. This season has been a transitional one as the Reds move from one era to another. The likes of Ekitike and Wirtz (and Alexander Isak if he’s ever fit again) will be a big part of that new generation and Ngumoha has shown enough to suggest he should be part of this vision too.
(Images from IMAGO)
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