1 week ago
46
Raheem Sterling isn't regarded particularly highly by Liverpool's fans these days, but it is undeniable that he remains one of Reds' most impactful youngsters of the Premier League era.
There was so much excitement surrounding the now 30-year-old when he was breaking through at Anfield, and he went from strength to strength after making his debut at just 17 years old and 107 days.
As fate would have it, Sterling ended up at the same club as Liverpool's latest wonder kid when he joined Chelsea in 2022. Rio Ngumoha was nurtured by Chelsea for several years before he controversially chose to swap West London for Merseyside in 2024, and last year he revealed some advice he received from Sterling during his spell at Chelsea.
“I remember one time, [Sterling] pulled me to the side and told me 'When you lose the ball, make sure you stay in the game'," Ngumoha revealed.
"Because at the top level, everything happens so fast so you have to be on it to do your thing. It made me feel like I can do what he has done. He is telling me that he can see what I am good at, from someone like Raheem, I was like 'wow.”
Ngumoha made his senior Liverpool debut just five months on from his 16th birthday earlier this year as he lined up in an FA Cup fourth-round game against Accrington Stanley.
And he has earned comparisons with a young Sterling thanks to his blistering performances in pre-season.
"One Liverpool fan account on social media platform X said: "I’m just as excited about Rio Ngumoha as I was about Raheem Sterling all those years ago (watched his youth games back then in awe).
"To have another winger who makes you get up off your seat at every dribble is unbelievably exciting."
Meanwhile, another said: "Rio Ngumoha is going to have a good season. Same vibes as Raheem Sterling for me, but the club is in a much better state to convince him that this is the long term project with which he should stick."
A third added: "I do see a whole lot of young Raheem Sterling in Rio Ngumoha you know. This time Liverpool can give him an even better platform that Manchester City could back in the day to become the best."
Ngumoha's best moment of pre-season came on Monday as he scored another stunning solo goal in one of Liverpool's victories over Athletic Club at Anfield.
English (US) ·