It is sometimes easy to forget Rio Ngumoha is still six months away from turning 18, especially when you see him dancing past defenders nearly double his age.
But you remember it when you see the star of Liverpool’s future up close and personal. In a first chat with reporters on Sunday, Ngumoha spoke with the innocence of youth.
‘Every single time I am called for, I just want to show everyone what I can do,’ he said. ‘Keep pushing and keep gaining the manager’s trust. If the opportunity is there to take on a man, I will do that any day of the week.’
This is a boy with the world at his feet but Ngumoha knows he has not ‘made it’ yet. The former Chelsea wonderkid’s tight-knit family, plus the support staff at Liverpool, make sure he does not get carried away, too.
But the more he comes off the bench and plays a starring role, the more he proves he does belong at this level, you wonder if he is not one for the future but the present. It is surely now time for Ngumoha to get his first run of games in Arne Slot’s starting XI.
First, the arguments in favour. First-choice wingers Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo have started all five league games since the Egyptian returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.
It is sometimes easy to forget Rio Ngumoha is still six months away from turning 18, especially when you see him dancing past defenders
It is surely now time for Ngumoha to get his first run of games in Arne Slot’s starting XI
Neither have scored a goal in that time, and they have just two league goals between them since November 1. If Salah blanks again against West Ham on Saturday, his already career-worst goalless run in the top flight will tick over to four months – a third of a year. He has four league goals with 11 matches remaining. At that stage last season, he had 25.
The 33-year-old has been creative and put in good shifts off the ball, but neither he nor Gakpo could complain if they were dropped (well, Salah probably could and would, but his hand is weaker than it was at the time of his early-December outburst).
Gakpo, especially, has been some way from his best level this season. After 25 goals and assists last term, he is on just 11 so far, in close to as many minutes. He looks short of confidence but his continued inclusion highlights the lack of a back-up option since Luis Diaz left for Bayern Munich, as Gakpo is perhaps in need of a rest.
Salah’s problems have been well documented, though his underlying numbers are not too dissimilar from the title-winning campaign. But some figures are stark and hard to ignore, despite the warning that they come from an extremely small sample size and would even themselves out if Ngumoha was to play more than 10-minute cameos here and there.
In terms of chances created from open play per 90 minutes in the league this season, the 17-year-old is averaging 6.07, whereas Gakpo is on 1.68, Salah 1.90. For expected assists, the golden metric of creativity, it reads: Ngumoha 0.78 per 90 minutes, Gakpo 0.20, Salah 0.21.
He is also ahead in other metrics such as successful passes and, of course, goals and shot conversion (this is drastically skewed by his one goal from one shot in 89 minutes of action). The numbers only back up what the old-fashioned eye test shows you: Ngumoha is the creative spark that Liverpool have desperately needed.
He has played in four Premier League games in 2026 and two of those appearances, Leeds at home and the trip to Nottingham Forest, have prompted the same thought: Ngumoha scares defenders. After a rather easy start for the opposition back line, suddenly they looked panicked and were forced to retreat.
‘He did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did all game,’ said Jamie Carragher of Ngumoha’s Forest cameo, while his Sky Sports colleague Daniel Sturridge added: ‘Every time I watch Rio Ngumoha, he looks electric. Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes.’
The numbers only back up what the old-fashioned eye test shows you: Ngumoha is the creative spark that Liverpool have desperately needed
Ngumoha scares defenders – but has played only 89 minutes in the Premier League and is yet to start in the top flight
So why doesn’t he have more than 89 minutes under his belt in the Premier League, and why has he not started? It is worth pointing out that he has more Premier League minutes than any other player under the age of 18 this season. Second is Harry Howell at Brighton with 80 minutes, then Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman on 27. Only six Under 18s have featured across the division this term.
Slot and Co, perhaps stung by asking too much, too soon of teenagers in the past, are trying to go easy on the winger to avoid pushing him at 17 and regretting it if he has physical issues later down the line.
The intensity of the Premier League could lead to fitness problems so he often sits out of training sessions. Slot has a small squad that has been exposed by injuries this season and Ngumoha, alongside midfielder Trey Nyoni, are often in his thoughts.
Ngumoha has been named as a substitute in almost every game, coming on in nine Premier League matches, and Slot believes this is a perfect way of introducing a 17-year-old to the toughest and best league in the world.
Like with so many selection decisions, he has to weigh up the long-term cost of pleasing fans by throwing Ngumoha into the bear-pit of men’s football. There are also safeguarding considerations about a kid being used in massive, televised fixtures.
Pep Guardiola was chastised for not giving Phil Foden more minutes when he was breaking through but said in 2019: ‘Phil going out on loan? No way! Impossible. He’s going to stay with us for many, many years. Impossible. Believe me, if he plays, it’s because we believe he can play.’
Many at the time said that it was ridiculous to keep him sitting on the bench when he could be getting minutes out on loan. Guardiola, who said Foden was the second-most talented teenager he had seen besides Lionel Messi, disagreed. It has paid off.
Slot said on Sunday: ‘He (Ngumoha) has incredible potential, otherwise at 17 years old he doesn’t play as many minutes in the Premier League, or at Liverpool. That tells you how much we appreciate him. He’s making more progress, getting stronger, and for him to show it at 17 says something about his talent.’
Ngumoha has been named as a substitute in almost every game, coming on in nine, and Slot believes this is a perfect way of introducing him to the toughest league in the world
Ngumoha’s creative output – albeit from a small sample size – is very impressive
Ngumoha, understandably, is itching to play more. Despite clearly being a firm part of the first-team picture, the winger still pops up from time to time in the Under 21s squad. That is beneficial for him, as are daily chats with boss Slot about how he can improve. The pair have spent a lot of time poring over clips and the head coach is effusive in private praise for Ngumoha.
But the 17-year-old added: ‘If you’re not playing as much, then you kind of stagnate. To gain minutes, whether with the Under 21s or 18s, if I am still available to play, I would play.
‘The manager is very important to me and he helps me a lot. We might have a meeting after training, he tells me how well I am doing, saying “keep going”, showing me clips. All that is important and helpful.’
It is evident that Ngumoha is one of the brightest prospects in English football. No one is doubting that he is on the path to becoming a world-beater. But maybe it is time to fast-track that journey and give him his first Premier League start.
