Liverpool boss Arne Slot gave Rio Ngumoha his Premier League debut, and the 16-year-old youngster seized the opportunity with a last-minute winning goal.
Arne Slot’s brilliant message to Liverpool hero Rio Ngumoha was caught on camera after he scored a fantastic winning goal in his Premier League debut against Newcastle. Liverpool won 2 – 3 against Newcastle at St. James’ Park and are together with Arsenal and Tottenham the only ones with 6 points after the first two Premier League rounds this season.
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After leading 2-0 after goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, Liverpool were brought in to make it 2-2 by a ten-man Newcastle after goals from Bruno Guimaraes and Will Osula – who equalised in the 88th minute.
But there was another dramatic turn when 16-year-old Ngumoha came in from the bench and snatched the victory in the 110th minute.
The winger snuck in and came up with a brilliant first touch after Mo Salah’s pass was exquisitely dummied by Dominik Szoboszlai. Thus, he became the fourth youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Slot embraced him afterwards, and in footage shared on both the Premier League and Liverpool’s official Instagram pages, he could be heard saying to Ngumoha: “For a moment, enjoy it”.
He then pushed the young player forward to immerse himself in glory with the away supporters gathered in the top row.
Ngumoha still had to do running drills after the game with the rest of Liverpool’s substitutes as part of a warm-up.
However, after seeing his excellent performances ahead of the season, Slot praised Ngumoha’s special talent and confidence for coming in and contributing a crucial moment before he turns 17 on Friday.
“He’s a player who can finish really well for his age,” said Slot.
“How hard his shot was, you don’t often see that for a 16-year-old.”
“I heard someone in the dressing room afterwards, I don’t want to say who, saying they would have taken that ball, taken a first touch, and then finished. But he’s so confident.”
“That’s what I like, because the first ball he got, he wasn’t scared. He immediately challenged someone. When the other player came, he got past, and for him to score that goal is not entirely random because for his age he is a fantastic goalscorer.”
Former Chelsea youngster Ngumoha got his first start last season in a 4-0 FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley and will be hoping for more game time this season after what he showed on Monday night.
Liverpool are back in action on Sunday when they face title rivals Arsenal in a big game at Anfield.
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