Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has told his teenage team-mate not to take moments in the spotlight “for granted”.
“It’s a dream debut for him,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports. “I’m very pleased for Rio.
“I’ve said it to him already, it all starts now. He has to keep working hard and stay humble but definitely have to enjoy this because these nights, you can’t take them for granted if you’re in his position.
“I’m sure with the players we have he will be back in training and having a hard session tomorrow again.”
Liverpool boss Slot praised the finishing abilities of Ngumoha, saying: “It was a great goal for a 16-year-old.
“Rio can finish so well for his age. I did hear someone say afterwards in the dressing room he would have taken a first touch, but he is so confident. For his age, he is a really good finisher.”
Ngumoha had Liverpool fans wondering in pre-season if he could be part of the first team this year.
He started a pre-season friendly against Athletic Bilbao on the left wing – and against that calibre of opposition he caught the eye, as he has done all summer.
The teenager scored in just the second minute, running on to a loose ball in his own half before racing forward and curling a fine effort in from 20 yards.
He caused the La Liga side all kinds of problems with his dribbling and trickery.
The 16-year-old left to a standing ovation midway through the second half.
Ngumoha’s performance that day came on the back of an assist against AC Milan and goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies.
In January, Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a match for Liverpool – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.
But that was his only first-team appearance of the campaign and he did not make the bench for a Premier League game until the opening game of this season against Bournemouth.
After the tragic death of Diogo Jota and the sales of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, Slot has a senior forward line of Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo.
Now Ngumoha has made his breakthrough and Liverpool will hope his thrilling intervention at Newcastle is the start of something big.
