Rio Ngumoha sends Liverpool message as Arne Slot changes pay off - 5 talking points vs Wolves

Liverpool knocked Wolves out of the FA Cup with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah goals seeing Arne Slot's side take charge of the contest. This is what we spotted.

Rio Ngumoha in action during Wolves vs Liverpool in the FA Cup.(Image: Darren Staples / AFP via Getty Images)

MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON // Liverpool safely booked its place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with Rio Ngumoha offering another glimpse of his talent in the process.

After a goalless and chanceless first half, Andy Robertson put Liverpool in front and then crossed for Mohamed Salah to net his second of the week against Wolves, putting the Reds too far ahead to catch.

From there, Arne Slot's side was able to see out the result without the need for any of the late drama we saw on Tuesday, with Curtis Jones getting in on the act too. Here are the five things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

Liverpool bounces back

"We have something to prove on Friday," Arne Slot said on Tuesday, moments after Liverpool had lost to a deflected stoppage-time goal from Andre. Rob Edwards, meanwhile, was expecting the visitors to show an "angry" response.

Still, though, there was no quick start from Liverpool. The Reds were well on top in the first period, but didn't do a great deal with the possession that they had.

Ngumoha, as we will come to, threatened to a point in the first half, but there wasn't much in the way of end product for all that he was enjoying himself with stepovers and dribbles.

In the second, he stepped it up as the Wolves defense became more stretched, with Robertson the man to prove decisive with a goal and assist to put his team well in control.

Andy Robertson was decisive for Liverpool.(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Rio Ngumoha excites

Ngumoha had started three games before this one this season and all of them have come in the domestic cups. For all the clamor for him to get more minutes — Steven Gerrard was the latest pundit to call for that earlier this week — the long-term plan has to remain.

At 17, Ngumoha cannot be the saviour for Liverpool in a season that has caused plenty of problems for Arne Slot. Even if he is ready to take on the mental challenges of playing every single game, physically, as the likes of Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns prove, it would be unwise to over-exert him.

Arne Slot started Rio Ngumoha in the FA Cup on Friday night(Image: (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images))

Here, he showed his rawness. There were lots of skills and his feet are remarkably fast, but he wasn't able to get away from his man sufficiently to find many dangerous balls into the box.

In the second half, in fairness, when Wolves tired and needed to leave more gaps in search of a goal to change the game, he managed to get more shots away.

It was all a good part of the learning curve. Offering some excitement even when he wasn't getting a cross or a shot away, Ngumoha certainly made his mark.

Arne Slot changes pay off

Slot made changes to his starting XI as much as he could, with the likes of Hugo Ekitike and Ibrahima Konate given a breather. Though it meant Dominik Szoboszlai playing right-back, it was the right call.

Ekitike has looked shattered lately and with Alexander Isak still a few weeks away from even being able to come on as a substitute, the Frenchman will need to play most of the matches before then.

Taking the chance to rest him was correct, with Slot outlining before kick-off that the Champions League race is more important than a cup run, even if he would like both. Getting the win anyway only made the decision more popular.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.(Image: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images)

Alisson Becker untroubled

Alisson Becker was partly at fault for the Wolves winner the other day and it was a slight surprise — not because of that, but just because of rotation — that Giorgi Mamardashvili didn't get a chance to impress.

In the event, Mamardashvili wasn't missing much. Alisson barely touched the ball in the first half and was a complete passenger. In the second period, he was not called upon that much more.

When Mamardashvili's next game will come remains to be seen. Alisson will just be glad to have gotten through the game without being asked to bail out those in front of him, even if Hee-chan Hwang prevented him collecting a clean sheet.

FA Cup quarter-finals await

The FA Cup is a major opportunity for Liverpool this season. By some distance, it is the Reds' best chance of winning some silverware in a season that has often been a slog.

Bouncing back from another late defeat in Tuesday's game between these sides was one thing, but edging closer to a trip to Wembley was just as vital.

Without securing a Champions League place, there is a question mark over whether even winning a trophy would constitute success for Liverpool this season, given how important being in the top five places in the Premier League is.

Going all the way in this competition, though, with Newcastle playing Manchester City and Arsenal having other priorities, feels realistic. Now, all eyes will be on the draw.