Rio Ngumoha‘s affect on Liverpool’s pre-season “provides power to the group,” says Arne Slot, who’s delighted along with his progress regardless of nonetheless having “studying factors.”
Ngumoha scored his second aim of pre-season – and his first in entrance of a crowd – when he made it 3-1 in Liverpool’s snug win over Yokohama F. Marinos.
It capped one other spectacular exhibiting from the 16-year-old, who changed Cody Gakpo for the ultimate 27 minutes in Japan’s Nissan Stadium.
There was appreciable hype round Ngumoha’s performances to date in pre-season and it’s straightforward to see why, although whereas Slot is an enormous admirer of his No. 73 he is aware of there’s nonetheless work to be executed.
“Rio, once more, confirmed the standard he has and that’s good for us,” he advised reporters in his post-match press convention.
“We have now plenty of excellent gamers, however to get some excellent gamers via the academy is at all times useful, at all times provides power to a group as effectively.
“It’s at all times good to see younger gamers from 16, 17 or 18 years outdated already impacting a sport.
“However there was additionally a second within the sport the place he ought to have squared it to Macca or Curtis, so additionally studying factors for him.
“However in case you are 16 and you may affect the sport like he did, that’s undoubtedly price a praise.”
Ngumoha is probably going to stick with Liverpool’s first group for the rest of pre-season and the Group Protect conflict with Crystal Palace at Wembley subsequent month.
He is probably not the one teen concerned both, with Slot eager to spotlight the efficiency of fellow goalscorer Trey Nyoni, 18, as quite a few his substitutes made an affect.
“He wasn’t the one one who impacted the sport from the bench, as a result of Trey Nyoni – additionally a teen – scored, assisted by Jeremie Frimpong,” the top coach defined.
“Within the first aim I feel Curtis Jones performed an enormous half by profitable the ball within the midfield.”
Whereas pre-season is usually a possibility for children to choose up minutes earlier than rejoining the academy sides or heading out on mortgage, there’s a sense that this summer time is completely different.
Ngumoha and Nyoni are nonetheless anticipated to end up for Liverpool’s U21s in 2025/26, in addition to the U19s within the UEFA Youth League, however the youngsters may be given extra first-team publicity.
It might be remiss to get carried away with their performances in a handful of friendlies – however there’s little denying the impression they’re making.
