Liverpool news as Rio Ngumoha has dream shirt number and big decision awaits

Liverpool faces a two-goal deficit ahead of its Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with Steve Nicol urging Arne Slot to hand Rio Ngumoha a starting role

Rio Ngumoha scored for Liverpool on Saturday(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool faces the challenge of overturning a two-goal deficit as it prepares to welcome Paris Saint-Germain to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday, having fallen 2-0 in the first leg on French soil.

While Arne Slot's men bounced back in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday, focus has now firmly shifted to Europe and the Champions League quarterfinals. Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia last week handed PSG a commanding advantage ahead of the return fixture.

The likes of Mohamed Salah and Rio Ngumoha, who both got on the scoresheet at the weekend, will be eager to play their part in turning the tie around.

Ngumoha has been generating considerable excitement with his displays, and speculation continues to swirl around the 17-year-old. With such a pivotal European clash on the horizon, a club legend has called on Slot to make a decisive selection choice.

Slot urged to make PSG decision

Former Reds defender Steve Nicol believes that the teenage sensation Ngumoha deserves to be among the first names on Slot's teamsheet for the Champions League encounter, urging the Dutch head coach to hand him a starting berth ahead of Cody Gakpo.

Nicol said on ESPN FC: "Right now Liverpool are searching for positives and there's no question that Ngumoha is a positive. Absolutely. He scares defenders.

Arne Slot must decide whether to play Ngumoha against Paris Saint-Germain(Image: Getty Images)

"If you go back to the tried and trusted Gakpo, [Hugo] Ekitike through the middle and Mo on the right then I can guarantee that whoever's playing right-back doesn't mind playing against Gakpo.

"If you play Ngumoha, the full-back number one doesn't know much about Ngumoha, he doesn't want to play against him.

"The kid's already scored a goal. He's involved in the second goal as well, so there's absolutely no way you shouldn't start Ngumoha on one side.

"Yes, I also think you have to start Salah in this game, particularly because he scored a goal, and then Ekitike should be through the middle."

Ngumoha's dream shirt number

With Ngumoha appearing destined to continue thriving in the Premier League, the club sat down for a Q&A with the promising young Englishman.

He currently sports the No. 73 shirt, but when quizzed on which number he might aspire to wear in the future, Ngumoha revealed: "Seventy-three holds a special place in my heart, obviously the first number I received.

"It was just random. But my dream number would be 11.

"Watching Neymar play for Barcelona and Mo obviously has broken all the records with No.11."