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Teenage Ngumoha scores as Liverpool beat Fulham
The strains of Duran Duran’s 80s hit ‘Rio’ echoed around Anfield as Liverpool, under head coach Arne Slot, momentarily relieved the pressure and scrutiny with a victory against Fulham.
The song served as a celebration of Rio Ngumoha’s brilliance.
Born 26 years after the song’s release, the 17-year-old’s electrifying performance provided a timely soundtrack to lift the mood of discontent that had been hanging over Liverpool.
Ngumoha answered the call for inspiration with a goal and a starring role in the 2-0 win against Fulham, a result that kept Liverpool fifth in the Premier League. The performance also presented Slot with a dilemma.
Will the teenage prodigy now start in a game that could play a part in shaping both Slot’s future and that of the current team?
Anfield was fraught with tension before kick-off as Liverpool fans voiced their displeasure with events both on and off the pitch during what has been a challenging season.
The Kop, usually a vibrant display of support, was noticeably bare as giant flags were absent as part of a protest by fans’ groups against proposed ticket price increases by Liverpool owners FSG.
The highly visible – or rather, non-visible – peaceful protest was compounded by a group of supporters marching along the front of The Kop after the game began, displaying a giant banner with the words: “No To Ticket Price Increases”.
The protests continued with chants critical of FSG, the overarching message being “Enough Is Enough”.
Against this backdrop, Liverpool started the match following heavy criticism after an FA Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Manchester City, and the subsequent 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris.
Slot, and Liverpool, were in dire need of a spark, with the season – and potentially the Dutchman’s future – hanging in the balance.
Liverpool return to winning ways with victory against Fulham
Enter Ngumoha, whose performance thrilled Liverpool‘s supporters and raised a crucial question.
If fortune favors the brave, will Slot have the courage to start Ngumoha in an attempt to overturn the deficit when the Champions League holders come to Anfield for Tuesday’s second leg?
Including Ngumoha would be a high-risk strategy, and Slot’s default position this season has been largely conservative. He will also be wary of PSG’s counter-attacking threat, which has proven devastating against stronger teams than the current Liverpool side.
The other side of the argument asks: what does Slot have to lose?
Slot has carefully managed Ngumoha’s minutes and remained guarded in his post-match comments.
“In this game, Rio showed why I am playing him more and more because he is getting stronger, fitter, and more ready to play at this level at 17 years of age,” said Slot.
“He dominated his one-on-one situations, which is crucial, and that is why we went 1-0 up.”
Ngumoha told BBC Radio 5 Live that scoring his first goal at Anfield was something he would “cherish for the rest of my life,” and that whatever minutes he receives going forward, it is “about staying in the right headspace.”
Former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live that Slot needed to be “careful” with the teenager but that he had “earned his right to play”.
“You’ve got to drip feed him in as and when you can,” he said.
“However, his performances are better than Cody Gakpo’s at the moment, so Liverpool fans are looking at that and thinking ‘he should be playing’.
“The question now is who starts in the forward positions on Tuesday, particularly that left-hand side? Will it be Ngumoha to start, and then Gakpo comes on at a later point? Because he’s earned his right to play.”
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Ngumoha getting ‘stronger and stronger’ – Slot
Against Fulham, Ngumoha was Liverpool‘s biggest threat, scoring a superb curling opener with skill and precision after 36 minutes. He then played a part four minutes later when Mohamed Salah showcased his enduring talent with a similarly accurate and technically proficient finish to seal a win that keeps Slot’s side in Champions League contention.
A constant threat on Liverpool‘s left flank, he received a well-deserved standing ovation when substituted after 69 minutes.
Was it to conserve energy for Tuesday? Or did Slot simply feel Ngumoha had done enough?
Former Liverpool midfielder Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports: “Rio gives you a great option from the bench for the PSG game, but who knows?
“If they did start him I wouldn’t be surprised, but I think right now, if I’m trying to pick Liverpool‘s best team for a game, I like the midfield they ended the game with.
“It was Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai, which is the midfield which pretty much won Liverpool the league last year, and I also think it might be a game where Hugo Ekitike starts as the nine, and you might need Florian Wirtz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.
“That feels like it has a nice shape to it. With Alexander Isak to come off the bench if you need him, then also Rio to give you a bit of ‘X-Factor’.”
The odds are likely against Ngumoha starting, but most observers (including this one) would suggest he is currently contributing more than the subdued Gakpo.
Only Wayne Rooney, at 17 years and 51 days, and Cesc Fabregas, at 17 years and 113 days, have started a Premier League game and scored at a younger age than Liverpool‘s Ngumoha, at 17 years and 225 days.
He is a guaranteed star of the future. Will Slot be bold enough to make him a star of Liverpool‘s present by playing him against PSG?
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