Liverpool Begin New Era with Victory as Ngumoha Waits for Debut
Liverpool launched their 2025-26 Premier League campaign in style with a 4-2 win over Bournemouth on Friday night. Highly rated teenager Rio Ngumoha was named among the substitutes but did not feature under new head coach Arne Slot.
The 16-year-old, who joined from Chelsea’s academy, impressed during pre-season with two goals and two assists, quickly catching the eye of the coaching staff. His performances have already drawn strong praise, with Wayne Rooney tipping him as Liverpool’s breakout talent. Rooney also backed the Reds to win the league this year, with Mohamed Salah reclaiming the Golden Boot after another prolific campaign.
Rooney highlighted summer signing Jeremie Frimpong as another key figure for Slot’s side. The Dutch full-back, signed from Bayer Leverkusen, scored on his debut against Crystal Palace and is expected to step into the right-back role following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s departure to Real Madrid.
Luis Díaz’s move to Bayern Munich has opened up competition on the left wing. Cody Gakpo is the frontrunner to take over, though Hugo Ekitike could also be an option. The French forward made a statement on his Premier League debut with a goal and an assist against Bournemouth, suggesting he will feature more centrally — especially after Darwin Núñez’s exit left Liverpool without a recognized striker.
The Reds are exploring attacking reinforcements, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak on their radar, but the Magpies’ £150m asking price could prove prohibitive. Should a deal fail, Ngumoha may be handed more minutes than expected, even as he prepares to turn 17 later this month.
Slot has praised the youngster’s potential but urged patience:
🗣️ “I don’t know what senior player really means. Rio has already shown he can make an impact at this level. Training every day with players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah is a big advantage for him.”
He added:
🗣️ “At 16 or 17, it’s already a big step to play regularly at the top level. We need to manage his progress carefully, because even players in their twenties find the Premier League demanding.”
With Díaz gone and Liverpool’s attack still in transition, Ngumoha’s breakthrough could come sooner than expected. The talent is there — the question is when Slot will unleash him.
