LONDON — Arne Slot said Rio Ngumoha is ready to be thrown into any situation after scoring his first Anfield goal in a 2-0 win over Fulham, which eased the rising pressure on the Liverpool boss.
The 17-year-old had already netted his first Premier League goal with a late winner away at Newcastle in Liverpool’s second game of the season, AFP reported.
Despite a difficult campaign, Slot has largely resisted the clamour to rely on Ngumoha as a game-changer.
But he has started three of Liverpool’s last eight games, with Slot encouraged by his physical development and more end product.
That faith was rewarded as Ngumoha produced a sublime strike to become Liverpool’s youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer at Anfield.
Mohamed Salah then netted in his first home appearance since announcing he will leave at the end of the season as Liverpool snapped a three-game losing streak.
“He has such a special quality which you don’t see a lot in football anymore, dominating the one v one situation and that’s exactly what he did when he scored his goal,” said Slot on Ngumoha’s impact.
“I’ve said a few weeks ago that his playing time will increase because he got stronger and stronger, showed more and more when he came in (to games), but also in training sessions.
“That it wasn’t only a nice trick, but there was more and more end product to what he did.
“There was more and more power, which is needed if you play against the best defenders in the world and I don’t think anyone is surprised that, at this moment in time, he scored his first goal (at Anfield).”
Liverpool face a much stiffer test on Tuesday if they are to overcome a 2-0 first-leg deficit against holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Slot, though, believes Ngumoha is ready for that elite level, even if he is unsure whether the teenager will be fresh enough to start.
“I think he’s ready. The question, of course, is can he do this two days later again?” Slot added.
“In the beginning of the season, he was a young player, getting some experience with the first team, but now he’s just someone I can pick for any game. So also the one on Tuesday.”
