Liverpool kicked off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign in thrilling fashion with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday night. Teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha was included on the bench but did not feature under new head coach Arne Slot.
Ngumoha, signed from Chelsea’s academy, caught the eye in pre-season with two goals and two assists, seizing his chance to impress the coaching staff. His performances have already earned high praise, with Wayne Rooney tipping him as Liverpool’s breakout star while predicting the Reds to win the league and Mohamed Salah to reclaim the Golden Boot after another prolific season last year.
Rooney also singled out Jeremie Frimpong as the club’s most influential signing of the summer. The Dutch right-back, who arrived from Bayer Leverkusen, scored on his debut against Crystal Palace and is expected to step into the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold following his move to Real Madrid.
The departure of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich has created an opportunity on the left flank. While Cody Gakpo looks set to fill the role initially and Hugo Ekitike may also be an option, Ngumoha could yet force his way into contention. Ekitike’s impressive Premier League debut — a goal and an assist against Bournemouth — means he will likely operate through the middle, especially as Darwin Núñez has also left the club and a replacement striker has yet to be signed.
Liverpool have shown interest in Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, but the Magpies’ £150m valuation could prevent a deal. Should a transfer fail to materialize, Ngumoha may see more minutes than expected this season, despite only turning 17 later this month.
Slot is cautious but optimistic about the youngster’s development. Speaking during pre-season, he said:
“I don’t know what senior players exactly means. A player like Rio has already shown he can make an impact at this level. It’s a big advantage for him to train daily with players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah and learn from their professionalism.”
He added that the club must balance Ngumoha’s growth with patience:
For young players of 16 or 17, it’s already a big step to play once a week at a high level. We need to guide them carefully, because even players in their early twenties find the intensity of the Premier League demanding.”
With Díaz gone and Liverpool’s attacking options still being reshaped, Ngumoha’s pathway into the first team may arrive sooner than expected. The teenager’s potential is undeniable — now it’s a matter of when, not if, he will take his chance.
