Wayne Rooney Backs Liverpool Wonderkid to Enjoy Breakthrough Season Under Arne Slot | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Rising Star Tipped for Breakthrough by Wayne Rooney

Liverpool are preparing to defend their Premier League crown under Arne Slot, and attention is turning to who could light up the season ahead. While the squad is packed with proven winners, one teenage talent is generating a significant buzz, even attracting praise from Wayne Rooney.

Wayne Rooney Backs Rio Ngumoha for Standout Season

Pre-season often provides the perfect stage for younger players to make their mark, and 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha has seized his opportunity. Featuring prominently during Liverpool’s summer fixtures, the winger has impressed with his pace, directness and composure.

Rooney, who knows all about breaking through as a teenager, has singled out Ngumoha as his pick for the Premier League’s breakout star. “Overhyping a player of his age is something people have to be very careful about, but he has just been that good that it is hard not to,” Rooney said. It is high praise from a man who was once in Ngumoha’s position himself.

Opportunities in a Packed Liverpool Schedule

Liverpool’s fixture list for 2025-26 is relentless, and while Cody Gakpo is expected to start on the left wing, the demands of competing across multiple fronts mean rotation will be essential. This could open the door for Ngumoha to get meaningful minutes, whether in domestic competitions or European fixtures.

The club’s recent title-winning campaign has reinforced their hunger, and the depth of the squad is one of the reasons many pundits, including Rio Ferdinand, believe they can secure back-to-back titles. With this level of belief surrounding the team, a breakout performance from a young player like Ngumoha could become one of the season’s defining stories.

Jeremie Frimpong Labelled Key Summer Signing

Alongside his prediction for Ngumoha, Rooney has also tipped new signing Jeremie Frimpong as the most important transfer of the summer across the entire league. His choice even eclipsed £116 million midfielder Florian Wirtz in Rooney’s view.

With Conor Bradley sidelined, Frimpong is expected to start against Bournemouth in Liverpool’s opening match, giving him the chance to prove his worth immediately. Early signs from pre-season have been encouraging, and the Dutch international’s attacking threat from full-back could be a major weapon in Slot’s tactical set-up.

Liverpool’s Blend of Youth and Experience

The season ahead offers Liverpool the chance to build on their momentum from last year’s title success. With established stars driving the campaign and emerging talents like Ngumoha pushing for inclusion, Slot’s squad looks well-balanced for another strong run.

If Rooney’s predictions prove correct, Ngumoha could be a name on everyone’s lips by the end of the season, joining a long line of Liverpool players who have made the leap from academy promise to first-team regular.