Arne Slot praised Rio Ngumoha’s performance and likened him to Mohamed Salah after his impressive display in the 2-0 win over Fulham on Saturday
The 17-year-old grabbed his second Premier League goal of the season with a superb strike in the first half, before Salah added a second to seal a memorable win.
It also marked his first goal since netting a dramatic winner in the 3-2 win over Newcastle United earlier in the season.
Speaking after the match, Slot praised the performance of the teenager and backed him for a long-term role at the club.
“He’s not only the long-term future but also the near future”, Slot admitted after the match.
“I said one or two months ago his playing time would increase because he’s got stronger and stronger.
He’s shown that it wasn’t only a nice trick but there was more and more end product to what he did, and more power, which is needed if you play against the best defenders in the world.”
Liverpool ended a run of three straight defeats across all competitions with a dominant win over Fulham that boosted their hopes of a top-five finish.
Ngumoha opened the scoring, before Salah added a second in a very one-sided first half performance.
“I don’t think anyone is surprised he scored his first [Anfield] goal. He has such a special quality you don’t see very often in football anymore, dominating the one-v-one situations”, Slot added.
“That’s what he did when he scored his goal, making the ball free by twisting and turning and then hitting it in like a Mo Salah finish.
“It’s pleasing to see that he did what we know makes him special”, the Dutchman concluded.
Liverpool will now turn their attention to the midweek Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain, where they will be aiming to overturn a two-goal deficit from the first leg.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
