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Topics: Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Premier League, Manchester United, FA Cup
Ben McAleer
Topics: Chelsea, Football, Liverpool, Premier League, Manchester United, FA Cup
Liverpool have high hopes for teenager Rio Ngumoha, who joined the Premier League champions from Chelsea last summer.
The Blues were keen on retaining the 16-year-old’s services having spent eight years on the club’s books. One insider with knowledge of the Chelsea academy told the Athletic anonymously last year: "The coaches loved working with Rio because he’s a great kid, but also because he would take on board what they were saying.
"There had been times when he was trying to do it all by himself."
Chelsea were bitterly disappointed to lose a player of Ngumoha’s potential, with Liverpool confident they have themselves a gem on their hands. Former Blues centre-back and Chelsea icon John Terry posted that Ngumoha “is and will be a top, top player” when his move to Liverpool was confirmed.
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The teenage forward then went on to make his senior debut for the Merseyside powerhouse having started the 4-0 FA Cup win over Accrington back in January.
In the process, Ngumoha became the youngest Liverpool player to feature in an FA Cup match, and the youngest player to start a first-team game in the club’s history.
However, things could have been so different for Ngumoha, who also discussed a potential move to Liverpool’s rivals Manchester United before his switch to Anfield.
Last June, Ngumoha spent time with United and listened to the plans they had for the youngster should he decide to leave Chelsea.
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While United pushed hard for his signature, they felt they were behind Liverpool in the race to sign Ngumoha and ultimately conceded defeat to their rivals. It could prove a major sliding doors moment in the player’s career.
Liverpool, after all, went on to win the Premier League, while United laboured to their worst ever Premier League finish, a miserable campaign compounded by their Europa League final defeat to Tottenham back in May.
Ngumoha, meanwhile, has forced his way into Arne Slot’s first team plans, with the teenager featuring in the club’s pre-season tour to Hong Kong and Japan, earning praise for his performances in the process.
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Liverpool get their season underway with the Premier League’s curtain raiser when they take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield this weekend.
Ngumoha will hope to make the matchday squad at Wembley on Sunday, though does face ample competition for a starting spot in this Reds side, who have bolstered their attack with the additions of Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike from Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht Frankfurt, respectively.