Who is Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha, 16, who becomes Reds’ youngest EVER player after debut in FA Cup
RIO NGUMOHA has been handed a shock first start for Liverpool in the FA Cup third round against Accrington Stanley.
He will become Liverpool’s youngest EVER player when he makes his debut against the League Two side.
The 16-year-old wonderkid “truly believes” he can win the Ballon d’Or one day and is the talk of the Anfield faithful?
SunSport is on hand to shed some light on the starlet, who has the brightest of futures ahead of him.
How long has Rio Ngumoha been at Liverpool?
The teenager joined the Merseysiders in September from Chelsea in a deal that proved to be the last of Arne Slot‘s first transfer window.
Liverpool made their move to sign the starlet in April after seeing his goalscoring exploits in Chelsea‘s Under-17 Premier League Cup final win over Wolves.
But the west Londoners’ fury at the Reds’ snapping up of Ngumoha meant he wouldn’t be able to play for the Kop club’s Under-18s until September.
The forward has impressed Slot during his brief stint at the club, so much so that he was called up to train with the first team in November.
Ngumoha recently travelled with the Reds for their Champions League clash with Girona.
But he was ineligible to play in the match as he didn’t meet the List B criteria for Europe’s elite club competition.
The only way he could’ve played in the match would have been if he’d taken a place in the 25-man List A squad.
He was then an unused substitute for the Reds during the Carabao Cup match against Southampton on December 19.
What position does Rio Ngumoha play?
The right-footed starlet can play across the front line but predominantly features on the left wing.
Has Rio Ngumoha represented England?
Ngumoha has been capped at Under-15 and Under-17 level for the Three Lions, finding the back of the net twice for the former side.
What has Rio Ngumoha said?
Ngumoha isn’t short of confidence and has already set his sights on winning the Ballon d’Or – despite not having a single first-team appearance to his name.
During an appearance on Inside the Academy, he said: “I truly believe I can win the Ballon d’Or one day.
“I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.
“The love for football started when I was four or five.
“I was watching my brother and I wanted to be like him.
“I was going to academies from a young age and it was a big thing when so many clubs wanted to sign me.
“I have learned you have to be resilient and believe in yourself.
“You can have a few bad games but you have to have that belief that you are the best.
“For me, if I am in bad form I just put it behind me and work hard.”
What has Arne Slot said about Rio Ngumoha?
Before Ngumoha’s debut, Slot said: “It’s always special if young players make their debut, there’s a smile on my face, he’s a young kid.
“Everytime he trains with us, he’s not afraid to do what he’s good at.”
What shirt number will Rio Ngumoha wear?
He has been handed the No 73 shirt.