Rio Ngumoha Makes FA Cup Debut for Liverpool

Rio Ngumoha made history by becoming the youngest player ever to start a competitive match for Liverpool at just 16 years and 135 days during their FA Cup tie against Accrington Stanley. This debut comes after Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea on his 16th birthday, sparking controversy that led Chelsea to ban Liverpool scouts from their academy fixtures. Ngumoha's record surpasses that of Harvey Elliott, who was 16 years and 174 days old at his Liverpool debut in 2019, although Jerome Sinclair remains the youngest player in the club's history based on appearance age. Head coach Arne Slot praised Ngumoha's talent and confidence, indicating that he had been training with the first team. Liverpool's starting lineup featured several changes from their previous fixture, emphasizing their focus on managing player workloads during a busy schedule. The match marks Slot's first FA Cup game in charge of the club, further adding to the significance of Ngumoha's debut.