Rio Ngumoha: The 16-year-old gem Liverpool has just added to their academy
Liverpool have surprised many by handing a debut to 16-year-old striker Rio Ngumoha, making him the youngest player to ever start a game for the club.
In the FA Cup third-round clash against League One side Accrington Stanley, manager Arne Slot opted to field a second-string side to rest key players for upcoming fixtures.
This presented an opportunity for young talent Ngumoha to earn a place in the starting lineup. Born on August 29, 2008, the forward came through Chelsea's academy and joined Liverpool last summer. He has already made an impact, registering four assists in the U18 Premier League and UEFA Youth League this season.
Slot previously included Ngumoha in the matchday squad for Liverpool's Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Southampton in December, although he didn't feature in the game.
However, this time, the 16-year-old was handed his Anfield debut, wearing the number 73 shirt and lining up alongside experienced stars like Trent Alexander-Arnold, Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Slot believes Ngumoha is ready for this big opportunity in the FA Cup. The Liverpool manager said: "It's always a special moment when a young player makes his debut, no matter what country you're from. As a former player, you understand how much it means.
Ngumoha is still very young, has only been with us for half a season, mainly training with the U21s but also with the first team. He's not afraid to show his strengths, which is his ability to take on opponents in one-on-one situations. Hopefully, he can prove that today."
When asked about Ngumoha's comments on winning the Ballon d'Or, Slot added: "He's at a club where players can win the Ballon d'Or, so let's see. But it's too early to talk about that."
Alongside Ngumoha, Harvey Elliott, Jarell Quansah, and Tyler Morton also featured in the Liverpool lineup. All three are at least five years older than their teammate. James McConnell (20 years old), Jayden Danns (18 years old), and Trey Nyoni (17 years old) will also be hoping to earn more first-team opportunities.
Central midfielder Nyoni, who joined Liverpool's academy from Leicester in 2023, became the youngest player to feature for Liverpool in the FA Cup when he came on as a substitute for Elliott in the fifth-round tie against Southampton last season.
