Rio Ngumoha struck late to hand Liverpool a 3-2 win at St James’s Park Monday night and according to Arne Slot the 16-year-old’s finishing sets him apart.
Ngumoha was introduced at stoppage time, and it didn’t take long before he turned the game around for the Reds, after connected well with Mohammed Salah’s cross.
“He’s a player that can finish really well for his age,” Slot explained. “How firm his shot was, you don’t see this often for a 16-year-old.
“I did hear someone afterwards in the dressing room, I won’t say who, said they would have taken that ball, have a first touch, then finish it off. But he is so confident.
“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got, he wasn’t afraid. He immediately took someone on. When the second player came, he got across him, and for him to score that goal is not completely a coincidence because for his age he is an amazing finisher.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk concurred, describing Ngumoha’s 100th-minute finish as ‘perfect’.
He said: “It is a dream debut for him. It was a perfect technique. We stayed calm towards the end as well, tried to find the right solution in order to score a goal, and we did it. I’m very pleased for Rio.”
Ngumoha, born to Nigerian and Guadeloupean parents in England turns 17 on Friday and will be signing his first pro contract. He has played for the English U-15 and U-16 teams, he was also called for the 2025 UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
Rio Ngumoha and Arne Slot...Liverpool delight.