5 hours ago
40
A delighted Rio Ngumoha described his winning goal against Newcastle as a "special feeling" as the 16-year-old became the club’s youngest-ever scorer.
The attacker, who has impressed in pre-season this summer, provided the decisive moment of a pulsating game at St. James Park as he curled in the final goal in the Reds’ 3-2 win.
Mohamed Salah’s cross into the box was dummied by Dominik Szoboszlai, allowing it to roll into Ngumoha’s path in the 10th minute of injury time, before he coolly slotted it past Nick Pope and into the bottom corner in what will surely be remembered as an iconic Premier League moment.
“I’m buzzing,” the teenager told LFCTV after the match. “I’m so happy to score, especially with it being the winner. It was a good moment, a special feeling.
“I think Dom just knew I was there. He said to me in the changing room that he hoped I was there,” he continued.
“As the ball came, I backed myself to score and then... I don’t even know. It was crazy.
"Last season, academy coaches and even the first-team coaches were always saying to me, 'Make the back post,' and the fact I made the back post is just crazy.
"My brother, my mum... everyone is just watching the game. When I saw it... Mo [passed the ball] and Dom put it through his legs, and one vs one, I just smashed it."
Ngumoha only joined Liverpool last summer, but so highly regarded is he in youth circles, the winger was handed a first-team debut in January during an FA Cup third-round tie against Accrington Stanley.
On Monday, after making his Premier League bow, Ngumoha was serenaded by the fans, with the Liverpool players encouraging the ex-Chelsea youngster to lap up the adulation from the visiting supporters.
“The fans, I heard them screaming my name. That was a sensational moment. But you can’t get too carried away with the noise. I probably do that finish 100 times on the training ground, so it’s no different with the fans, but the fans backing you there is just crazy.”
Ngumoha earned praise from Thierry Henry in the post-match analysis for his bravery and direct dribbling within minutes of coming off the bench.
But despite the euphoria and excitement following Monday’s game, Ngumoha was keeping his feet firmly planted on the ground.
“My teammates are always encouraging me that, if it’s on, to beat my man and take them on,” Liverpool’s newest star explained.
“I just have mix it up sometimes because if there are two players there, there might be a pass and a one-two and get it back and then find myself in a scoring area.
“I’m 16, but I don’t want my age to show that I can’t play with the older players. I want to prove a point that I can play with players not just my age, but many ages above. People at the club are always helping me and I’m always improving.”
On his new teammates, Nguomha added: “You learn so many things like how professional they are and what they do to reach the top level.
“The fact that I’m learning from them every day is special. I just have to keep going. It’s the first of many goals, but [I’m] back to training tomorrow, so I have got to prove it once again to the manager what I can do.”
English (US) ·