-Credit:2024 Liverpool FC
Arne Slot suggested that Rio Ngumoha’s fearlessness when he has trained with Liverpool’s first team contributed to his decision to hand the 16-year-old a first-team debut vs Accrington Stanley.
Ngumoha joined the Reds with a reputation as one of the best young players in England last summer but few would have expected his senior debut to come so early.
Liverpool head coach Slot said: “It is always special when a young player makes his debut, no matter which country you are in. You know what it means to the player. He is a young kid that has been with us for half a season. He has trained mostly with the Under-21s but sometimes with us. But when he has been with us, he isn’t afraid to do what he is good at – taking players on. I hope he gets the chance to show his quality.”
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On managing in the FA Cup for the first time, Slot added: “I know a lot about this tournament. The domestic cups aren’t that special in other countries but everyone knows it means a bit more here.
“It is a special game for us too. Many of the players who start today haven’t played too much. It is a chance for them to show they have more playing time. I am hoping and expecting that our players want to prove a point.
“If you look at the players who start, almost all of them haven’t played that much. There isn’t many options to do that. Szoboszlai has been out through illness so he missed a few games. Conor Bradley has had a hamstring injury and played a couple of days ago so Trent starts. I didn’t feel it was the right time for him to play again.”