Liverpool talent compared to Michael Owen tipped to shine under Arne Slot - 'Unbelievable'

Rio Ngumoha has earned plenty of plaudits for his performances this season, with one former Liverpool star comparing the 17-year-old's breakthrough to that of Michael Owen

A Liverpool player has drawn comparisons with Michael Owen(Image: Getty Images)

Rio Ngumoha has been compared to Michael Owen as the Liverpool youngster continues to earn rave reviews for his impact this season.

The 17-year-old has become a regular fixture in Arne Slot’s first-team, and has made a big impression in the short space of time in which he has played for the senior side.

Having scored a dramatic winner with his first Premier League goal against Newcastle back in August, Ngumoha has gone on to enhance his reputation with more impressive showings from the bench, leading to him making his first league start in the 1-1 draw against Tottenham last month.

Such has his impact been that Slot has faced calls to give him more minutes from the likes of Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, with the former having argued that Ngumoha has done more to earn a start than some of his senior teammates.

And another former Liverpool star has added his praise to the mix, with 2005 Champions League final goalscorer Vladimir Smicer comparing the teenager to his former teammate Owen.

“I can't believe it. At his age, the way Rio Ngumoha is playing, it's unbelievable,” Smicer told football betting site BetVictor.

“It's the same as Michael Owen. Michael came and he was fearless. He was taking players on, making a difference in games.

Rio Ngumoha has impressed at Liverpool this season(Image: Getty Images)

“Sometimes if you go from juniors to the seniors' game, it's a little bit different. It's different physically and everything. But Rio is going one-on-one against two defenders, no problem, he's trying to score.

“It's fantastic. He's still very young, so we need to be patient with him. But he's a very, very promising player, a very talented player. Of course, he needs to play, he needs to play to adapt, to learn how to play.

“It's not only that you can't just go one-on-one or one-on-two, you need to find a balance, where to go, when. It's important that the players and managers explain and help him gain experience. I think he's a very promising player and I'm glad he's playing for us.”

Despite the increasing calls for more minutes for Ngumoha, Slot has continued to urge caution, citing injuries to some of the club’s other youngsters.

"This season, we have treated him carefully," Slot said last month. "He cannot be on the pitch too many days in a row because of stress fractures that players of his age sometimes have, and have had at this club. Jayden Danns is an example of that.

"He could start for us. I said a month ago he would get more playing time and we have seen that with more minutes.”