Arne Slot praises 'special' Rio Ngumoha and explains what changed for Liverpool winger

Rio Ngumoha was a strong performer, especially in the second half, as Liverpool knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup at Molineux, with Arne Slot enjoying his latest showing

Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha shakes hands with head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot described 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha as "special" in his post-match press conference after the former Chelsea talent started his fourth match of the season.

Ngumoha was trusted with the left wing berth as Liverpool rotated its side, giving Hugo Ekitike a rest as Cody Gakpo moved to number nine. Electric with the ball at his feet, the teenager showed more glimpses of what he can do in the final third.

"I think it's special if you're a 17-year-old and you play in a Premier League match," Slot said at Molineux. "I know it's an FA Cup match, but two Premier League sides playing against each other.

"If you're then able already to impact it with some very good one-v-one situations; that is also what makes him special because there are not many players in the modern football that can take one-v-ones on.

"That's something he can. He also — in my opinion — did better than three days ago because he kept the ball more. Three days ago he lost it a few times as well. So, three days ago he also had his impact with his actions.

"Today, he had it as well but was even better in moments where he had to keep the ball. [It's a] nice game because you face five defenders.

Rio Ngumoha applauds the Liverpool fans his star showing in the 3-1 FA Cup victory at Wolves(Image: Nigel French/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

"For a winger, you only have to go to one of the three center-backs, or defensively you don't have to do as much as when you face four defenders.

"It was also a nice moment for him to use all his energy for the attacking part and not having to defend as much as when you have to do that when you play against the four at the back."

Ngumoha was not the only player to emerge from the game with credit. Andy Robertson was decisive, scoring and then setting up the two goals that took the game away from Wolves.

"He loves the club and he loves to play in front of these fans," Slot said. "These fans were again amazing, by the way, three days after they were so disappointed.

"Like us, they had to go again on a Friday evening over here. I don't know if they were all the same, but there were definitely more because in the FA Cup you have even more away fans.

"Robbo has, in the one-and-a-half year that I'm here, he has given his everything for the club. I think the fans will tell me that it's not only one-and-a-half year he did this. He did this for all the years that he's been here.

"Every time I need him, or the club needs him, he tries to give his best. That's again what he did tonight, not only scoring and having an assist, but I think he defended well with calm and a lot of composure on the ball.

"That's crucial because if you play against the team where the full-backs are constantly open you need in those positions [a] player who is making the right decisions, that's what Dom and Robbo definitely did tonight."