Liverpool's 5 greatest wonderkids as Rio Ngumoha compared to Anfield icons

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Remember the name: Rio Ngumoha.

Few Liverpool fans will forget it after the teenager's star turn in the team's last-gasp 3-2 win over Newcastle at St. James' Park less than a fortnight ago. After an exciting pre-season, Ngumoha very much announced himself to the outside world beyond just the borders of Merseyside.

Just 16 years old at the time of his winner, 10 minutes into second-half stoppage time, it could be the start of a very special career at Anfield for the young winger, who only turned 17 last week. But Ngumoha is certainly not the first fresh-faced talent to break through from Liverpool's academy and make an immediate impact.

Here's a look at how Ngumoha compares with some of the other wonderkids to make their mark down the years.

1. Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler scored on his debut against Fulham before netting five against them two weeks later

Robbie Fowler scored on his debut against Fulham before netting five against them two weeks later

Few players in history have burst on the scene quite like the 'Toxteth Terror.'

After scoring on his first-team debut in a 3-1 win against Fulham in the League Cup third round, Fowler followed that up by netting all five goals in the second leg a fortnight later.

Fowler followed that up with a hat-trick in only his fifth league appearance on his way to 13 goals in his first 15 games. That was merely the start of a prolific career which eventually saw him plunder 183 goals in 369 games over two spells at Anfield.

Among those included a hat-trick against Arsenal in four minutes and 33 seconds in the 1994/95 season - the Premier League's quickest ever until it was beaten by a certain Sadio Mane. It's little wonder Fowler soon earned the nickname 'God' at Anfield.

Fowler helped Liverpool land the FA Cup, League Cup, and UEFA Cup Treble in the 2000/01 season, before leaving for Leeds the following November. He returned to Liverpool five years later to a hero's welcome and remains the ninth highest Premier League scorer of all time.

2. Michael Owen

Michael Owen on the pitch at Anfield with the Ballon d'Or

Michael Owen won the Ballon d'Or award aged just 22 while at Liverpool

When you think of Michael Owen's breakthrough, you think of THAT goal against Argentina.

But the reality is, Owen's story had already begun before the summer of 1998. Owen was thrown on as a substitute for his debut in the penultimate game of the 1996/97 season against Wimbledon and scored.

The following season, he won the Premier League Golden Boot and the PFA Young Player of the Year, while finishing third in the main PFA award.

His electric pace and prolific form naturally earned him a spot in England's World Cup squad, and after starting the first game on the bench, he was soon in the starting lineup before his wondergoal in the last-16, which announced him to the world.

Another Golden Boot followed the season after, even though he missed the final weeks of the season due to a hamstring injury, which would be the first in an eventually-significant collection of injury woes.

Like Fowler, Owen was crucial in Liverpool landing the Treble in 00/01, including scoring both late goals in the FA Cup final comeback against Arsenal. He won the Ballon d'Or that year, having just turned 22.

Owen was sold to Real Madrid three years later before returning to England with Newcastle despite his desire to rejoin Liverpool, though his reputation among many Reds fans was tarnished when he later joined fierce rival Manchester United.

3. Raheem Sterling

Liverpool swooped to snap up 15-year-old prospect Raheem Sterling from Queens Park Rangers in 2010, fighting off Manchester United, Manchester City, and Arsenal in the process.

The deal cost the Reds an initial £450,000 ($607,000), potentially rising to £2 million ($2.7 million) - a sizeable fee for an unproven and unknown teenager. But it proved to be one of the best pieces of business the club ever done.

Just two years later and Sterling made his debut, at the time becoming the third youngest-ever player for the club. Sterling soon became a key part of the Liverpool side under Brendan Rodgers and played a huge role as the Reds were narrowly beaten to the title in the 2013/14 campaign, winning the club's Young Player of the Year award twice in a row, as well as the 2014 Golden Boy award.

Sterling was selected by England for the 2014 World Cup - the first of five major tournaments he represented his country. His time at Liverpool would eventually end on a sour note after a contract dispute and an ill-advised BBC interview saw him force through a £49 million ($66.2 million) move to rival Manchester City.

4. Trent Alexander-Arnold

Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool kisses the emblem of Liverpool on his shirt

Trent Alexander-Arnold lived his boyhood dreams at Liverpool but would leave the club under a cloud

Another player whose time at Liverpool would ultimately come to a bitter end.

Local lad Trent Alexander-Arnold joined his boyhood club aged six and rose through the academy ranks before making his debut shortly after his 18th birthday.

The right-back would become an integral figure in Jurgen Klopp's side as Liverpool swept up every trophy at home and abroad under the German's stewardship.

In doing so, Alexander-Arnold became the youngest player ever to win six major trophies, aged 23. By then he had already reached 100 appearances for Liverpool - the fourth-youngest player to do so behind Owen, Sterling and Fowler.

He won the PFA Young Player of the Year after helping Liverpool end its 30-year wait for a league title in 2019/20, and was selected in the PFA Team of the Year on three occasions, as well as earning nominations for the Ballon d'Or award.

Alexander-Arnold would eventually become Liverpool's vice-captain, wearing the armband on several occasions himself, but left the club under a cloud in the summer after joining Real Madrid at the expiration of his contract, much to the disdain of many Reds supporters.

5. Rio Ngumoha

Rio Ngumoha celebrates for Liverpool

Ngumoha made an instant impact with his winner against Newcastle

It's a perfect start for the London boy.

Like Sterling, Ngumoha was snapped up by Liverpool from another club in the nation's capital - this time Chelsea. Newham-born Ngumoha had been with the Blues since the age of eight, and had a reputation that was already preceding him from his stunning displays in the academy.

But Chelsea's policy of signing, well, pretty much everyone... coupled with a difficult pathway from youth football to the senior team, led Ngumoha to take the leap to Liverpool for what he deemed was a better chance of breaking into the first team.

His former youth coach, Saul Isaksson-Hurst, told the BBC: "We managed to get him from the clutches of Arsenal. He was a phenomenal talent at under-9s.

"I don't say it lightly, he is one of the best academy talents I have come across, and I have seen some top players become superstars. I told his brother I expect him to see him on the Ballon d'Or list one day, I believe he can do that."

Arne Slot clearly has faith in Ngumoha's ability, having included him in his Champions League squad for this season, while Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel has been impressed after his debut for England's under-19 side.

It's still early days, but safe to say, the sky is the limit. Watch this space.

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