Rio Ngumoha agreement reached after Arne Slot explained decision on Liverpool star

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Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney are in agreement about Rio Ngumoha after the 17-year-old Liverpool forward made his first Premier League start against Tottenham last weekend

Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha.(Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Daniel Sturridge and Wayne Rooney were both impressed by the performance of 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha at the weekend as the Liverpool ace made his first Premier League start.

Ngumoha completed all seven of his attempted dribbles and only gave three passes away during his 62 minutes on the field against Tottenham, adding some much-needed pace and dynamism in the final third that has been sorely lacking of late.

And the pundits were in agreement about his performance ahead of the big decision Arne Slot faces in how to use Ngumoha in matches against Galatasaray and Brighton that are coming up this week.

"Rio Ngumoha today. Max Dowman yesterday," Sturridge posted on social media. "The future of English football is looking special. Two seriously exciting young players."

Dowman scored for Arsenal against Everton while Ngumoha was given just over an hour at Anfield. Both players will have to be managed carefully, but they are clearly very talented.

"Ngumoha is direct and positive," Rooney said on Match of the Day. "It is a joy to watch these young players willing to take the ball.

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

"We saw it with Max Dowman at Arsenal. You wanted the Liverpool players to keep giving him the ball. He is exciting and entertaining."

"We see a lot of modern-day footballers get into good positions and play the safe pace to recycle possession," Micah Richards added.

"But he is positive and sharp. Pedro Porro found it very difficult because he didn’t know what to do with Ngumoha. The next part of his development is the final ball."

Ngumoha is likely to be a key talking point during Slot's pre-Galatasaray press conference, which will be held later today. The Liverpool boss could select him again, but is perhaps likelier to come off the bench.

"Rio is doing that well it makes sense to play him," Slot said post-match on Sunday. "It is a mix of playing the ones that are fit and using the quality that these players can bring."

On social media, Ngumoha reacted to Liverpool's draw with Spurs. "Disappointed with the result today but happy to make my first Premier League start," he wrote. "We go again."

Liverpool.com says: Ngumoha has been really exciting when he has been seen. Slot knows he will have to be careful with him, but he has made more of an impact than Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah lately, without question.