'Chuck him in' — Alan Shearer orders Arne Slot to make brave PSG selection call

Liverpool must overturn a two-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the Champions League and keep the club's hopes of silverware alive

Alan Shearer has made his feelings clear(Image: BBC)

Alan Shearer believes Arne Slot should start Rio Ngumoha against Paris Saint-Germain after his electric performance on Saturday.

Slot handed the 17-year-old winger a rare opportunity against Fulham, one he grasped with both hands. Ngumoha gave Liverpool the lead after cutting in from the left and finding the far bottom corner with an excellent curling effort.

The youngster continued to be a threat throughout the game and was involved in the build-up for Mohamed Salah's goal, which helped Liverpool secure a much-needed 2-0 win in the race for Champions League soccer. The Reds are fifth in the Premier League table, four points ahead of Chelsea in sixth, having played a game more.

While securing a top-five finish is at the top of Slot's agenda, Liverpool still has a chance of winning silverware this season. Slot's players have reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League and will take on PSG at Anfield on Tuesday.

PSG boasts a two-goal lead heading into the second leg, leaving Liverpool with a difficult challenge. Slot faces several selection dilemmas heading into the European clash, such as whether to start the likes of Salah, Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson.

Yet the player most Liverpool fans want to see start against PSG is Ngumoha. Slot has declared the teenager is "ready" to feature in such a huge game, but it remains to be seen what decision the Liverpool boss will take.

Rio Ngumoha scored his first Premier League goal at Anfield on Saturday(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Speaking on Match of the Day, former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy urged Slot to start Ngumoha against PSG. Yet he believes the Reds boss will make a cautious selection.

"Well, I would've said no before I'd seen some of his quotes after the game, where he's talking about (how) now he's ready to play in any game," said Murphy. "So, he might. I think he'll err on the side of caution and go with somebody else.

"The big thing for me is, because (Achraf) Hakimi goes wandering and he just plays his own game, why not leave him (Ngumoha) out there on the left? Because if there's a transition, he's perfect, because he's so direct and so dynamic."

Shearer also thinks Ngumoha can cause PSG plenty of problems and give Liverpool a much-needed "freshness" in attack.

Sitting alongside Murphy, Shearer added: "I would start him, simply because he brings an energy and a freshness to Liverpool. I think that's one of the things that's been desperately missing for Liverpool.

"With that performance today, the confidence that will give him, chuck him in again. Why not? Why wouldn't you?"

Slot has been reluctant not to rush Ngumoha into his starting XI, giving the youngster just 288 minutes of Premier League action this season. Yet he's impressed when called upon, scoring a famous winner at Newcastle in August and starring against Fulham.

Ngumoha's minutes are gradually increasing as the season progresses, with him featuring in each of Liverpool's last six games. It's now up to Slot to decide whether the talented star will make the biggest appearance of his career so far at Anfield on Tuesday.