Liverpool 16-Year-Old Ngumoha Impresses in Pre-Season Wins

Liverpool's 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha has made a strong impression during the club's pre-season friendlies, notably scoring in the 3-1 win over Yokohama F. Marinos. Manager Arne Slot praised Ngumoha for his quality and energy, highlighting the value of academy players in the squad and noting that while Ngumoha still has learning points, his impact at such a young age is commendable. Ngumoha himself expressed excitement about his progress and the support from senior players like Andy Robertson, emphasizing his desire to keep working hard without rushing his development. The club's decision to sell Luis Diaz and not seek an immediate like-for-like replacement may open first-team opportunities for promising young talents like Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni, who also scored in the same match. Slot mentioned that consistency will be key for Ngumoha to establish himself in the Premier League, and the youngster is expected to remain involved with the first team throughout pre-season and upcoming competitive fixtures. The positive performances from Ngumoha and other academy players have energized Liverpool's squad as they prepare for the new season.