As Liverpool made their method out of the City Ground on Sunday, Rio Ngumoha was eager to discuss.
He might solely be 17 however already there are indicators that the maturity he has on the pitch relates to his off-pitch behaviour too.
Such was his affect in Liverpool’s win at Nottingham Forest – together with enjoying his half in Alexis Mac Allister’s disallowed aim after changing Mohamed Salah within the 77th minute – that he earned reward throughout.
“Top drawer. Changed the game for them. A winger that wants to beat his man and deliver with a mix of speed and finesse,” stated ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.
Former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge added: “Every time I watch Ngumoha, he looks electric. Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes. Simple as that.”
More minutes is what Ngumoha wishes. Until now, {the teenager} has been restricted to simply 89 minutes within the Premier League regardless of being within the squad for all of the video games besides one. And he is decided to show everyone his capabilities.
When he got here on towards Forest, was the mindset to make a press release?
“Yeah, I know I need to at least do something to try to impact the game, whether that’s on the ball or off the ball. That can be putting in a tackle, pressing to win the ball back, putting balls in the box, having shots on target or just beating my man,” stated Ngumoha.
“I just think every single time I’m called on for the team, I want to show everyone what I can do really.”
When Ngumoha scored a dramatic 100th-minute winner at Newcastle in August and have become Liverpool‘s youngest goalscorer, there was a sense externally that he could be seen extra ceaselessly this season.
Yet Slot has managed his game-time, with {the teenager} – who left Chelsea to join Liverpool in 2024 – solely beginning within the EFL Cup and FA Cup to date.
When Luis Diaz left for Bayern Munich final summer time, Liverpool opted to create a pathway for Ngumoha moderately than going for Bradley Barcola or Malick Fofana.
Given the latest struggles of Cody Gakpo, who has performed extra minutes than any Liverpool ahead this season, Ngumoha maybe deserves an opportunity down his most well-liked left flank.
Down the suitable, Salah has gone 9 Premier League video games with out a aim, and it was down that aspect the place Ngumoha impressed on Sunday.
“Hopefully [more game-time] soon, just keep pushing and gaining the manager’s trust and hopefully that leads to more minutes,” insisted Ngumoha, who has continued enjoying at academy stage in latest weeks.
Last weekend, the day after he had a aim wrongly disallowed towards Brighton within the FA Cup, Ngumoha scored a screamer towards West Brom at U21 stage.
He stated: “I feel like if you are not playing as much then you can stagnate, so I want to gain more minutes – whether that is Under-18s or 21s – I am still so young, so I am available to play, so any games I can play, I will.”
