Slot excited by 16-year-old Ngumoha after FA Cup display: ‘Every time he trains with us, we see his qualities’ | OneFootball

Arne Slot hailed debutant Rio Ngumoha after the 16-year-old delivered an impressive performance in Liverpool’s 4-0 FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley, describing it as a “special day” for the youngster.

Liverpool’s FA Cup third-round clash against Accrington Stanley marked a memorable milestone as Ngumoha became the club’s youngest-ever player in the competition at just 16 years and 135 days old.

The teenager, who joined the Reds from Chelsea last summer, made his senior debut in the 4-0 victory at Anfield.

Ngumoha started on the left-wing and delivered an assured performance, lasting 71 minutes before being substituted to a warm reception from the Anfield crowd.

Despite his youth, he showed maturity in possession, often looking to take on defenders or link up with teammates. While he gave away a few fouls, his confidence and technical ability stood out.

Liverpool’s dominance was already clear before the half time break, as goals from Diogo Jota and a spectacular long-range strike from Trent Alexander-Arnold, which soared into the top corner at the Anfield Road End, put them in ascendancy.

Further goals from Federico Chiesa and youngster Jayden Danns cemented the Reds’ progression to the fourth round.

Speaking after the match, Liverpool head coach Slot praised Ngumoha’s display: “Rio was lucky that Federico (Chiesa) wasn’t with us in the last two days because he was sick.

“He’s been with us now for half a season. Every time he trains with us, we see his qualities. He can dominate one-on-one situations, he is very quick on his feet, and he can change direction really fast.”

Slot also highlighted the Anfield crowd’s appreciation of Ngumoha’s efforts: “I’m always happy when a player making his debut shows what we see on the training ground. I think the fans liked what they saw, you could feel it in the stadium, and when I took him off, their reaction showed it too. It was a special day for him. He’ll sleep well tonight, I assume.”