Rio Ngumoha sends three-word Liverpool message after impressing vs Tottenham

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Rio Ngumoha made his Premier League debut for Liverpool in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham at Anfield, with the 17-year-old taking to social media after the match to vow the Reds will bounce back

Rio Ngumoha in action for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur(Image: (Michael Regan/Getty Images))

Rio Ngumoha has expressed his pride at making his Premier League debut for Liverpool, despite his disappointment that his team couldn't maintain their lead against Tottenham Hotspur. The 17-year-old, who shone in the recent 3-1 FA Cup win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, was given his first top-tier start by Arne Slot at Anfield.

Ngumoha and his colleagues got off to an ideal start when Dominik Szoboszlai put the Reds in front with a superb free-kick just 18 minutes into the game. Ngumoha was substituted just after the hour mark, with Hugo Ekitike replacing him, and a minute from time Richarlison scored to earn Spurs a crucial point in their fight against relegation.

Following the match, the England youth international took to social media to assure fans that his team will "go again" in their pursuit of securing Champions League football next season.

He posted: "Disappointed with the result today but happy to make my first Premier League start. We go again."

Explaining his decision to give Ngumoha his first Premier League start, Reds manager Slot told BBC Radio 5 Live after the match: "I have 12-13 players that are capable of delivering good performances.

"Rio is performing so well it makes sense to play him. It's a balance of fielding those who are fit and utilising the quality these players can bring."

Ngumoha's penalty appeals were dismissed by referee Chris Kavanagh in the first half, a decision that former Reds defender Jamie Carragher agrees with.

He stated: "I don't think it's a penalty. He's almost on the way down. He just comes across, but the legs just don't clip.

"Porro has a real tug of his shirt. He (Souza) almost just brushes him around the midriff. It's definitely not a penalty."

Rio Ngumoha made his first start in the Premier League for Liverpool against Tottenham(Image: (Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Following the full-time whistle, Liverpool were met with boos from the crowd. When questioned about the fans' reaction, Slot responded: "I think it's understandable for fans to be frustrated because it happened already so many times that they've seen the home team not picking up the points that they're expecting to, us conceding goals in the last minute.

"Now it's up to us to bring that frustration to Wednesday and come up with a big performance. Because that we are all frustrated, that's completely clear.

"And it's now up to me and the players to take that frustration into Wednesday evening and show the fans the performance and the results they deserve, because they've been supportive throughout the whole season to us.

"Then if it happens so many times that they are frustrated in the end of a game or after the final whistle, that makes complete sense to me."