John Aldridge has called for Arne Slot to make more use of one ‘unpredictable’ player in Liverpool’s first-team squad in the second half of the season.
At the outset of the campaign, Rio Ngumoha was making quite a name for himself with some show-stopping displays on the pre-season tour to the Far East and, of course, his stoppage-time winner against Newcastle in the Premier League in August.
However, the 17-year-old has been used sparingly despite those eye-catching heroics, being handed just two senior appearances amounting to 18 minutes combined since the end of October (Transfermarkt).
Aldridge calls for Slot to use Ngumoha more frequently
In his latest column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge lamented how ‘static’ and ‘predictable’ Slot’s team have become, and he wants to see the teenage winger being utilised more frequently to give the Reds an added spark up front.
The ex-LFC striker wrote: ‘We’re too predictable and easy to play against. Rio Ngumoha is one of those players, if you bring him on for 15 minutes, teams don’t know how to play against him. What he does, no-one knows. He probably doesn’t even know. He’s unpredictable. He has pace and trickery and can hurt teams.
‘Gerrard, Rooney, Owen, Fowler, they all played at that age. Maybe Arne is trying to protect him by using him sparingly. We’ve not seen much of him this season but if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I would like to see him used more.’
Ngumoha could inject a spark into Liverpool’s attack in tight games
We can entirely understand the logic in Slot being careful in not overburdening Ngumoha, who it must be remembered is still a minor. Irrespective of how gifted they might be, no 17-year-old should be landed with major responsibility for one of the biggest clubs in world football.
However, Aldridge makes a fair point in arguing the case for giving the teenager more frequent runouts off the bench, especially in games where Liverpool are struggling to break down deep-lying defences who are easily coping with a Reds attack lacking a cutting edge.
We all saw the impact that the youngster made against Newcastle, and while it might be fanciful to expect that in every game (he hasn’t scored in eight subsequent appearances), he has the skill set and self-confidence to give opposition defenders the runaround in the closing minutes of matches.
Ngumoha could well be handed a start in the FA Cup clash against Barnsley next Monday (he made his senior debut in the third round of the tournament against Accrington Stanley this time last year), and a standout performance in that fixture could persuade Slot to call upon him more frequently.
The Fulham match on Sunday would’ve seemed like the ideal scenario to throw him on for the final quarter-hour or so when Liverpool were struggling to find a winning goal.
If (as seems likely) we find ourselves in a similar game state in the coming weeks and months, we’d echo Aldridge’s call for the 17-year-old to be thrown into the fray and given the opportunity to replicate his St James’ Park heroics.
I agree. Ngumoha brings more unpredictability on the left forward than gakpo. Gakpo can switch to center forward while Ekitike is out.
I have been vocal in condemnation of Milos Kerkez incessant need to stop all forward momentum by always passing the ball backwards when receiving it (to me shows a lack of confidence in his ability to progress the ball under aggression)….
But I will say he has made many aggressive overlapping runs on the left side (some often when Wirtz has the ball and the space is open for a pass) but never receives the ball.
The point being not many LFC players are making forward runs off the ball/Kerkez is one who has been doing this BUT NEVER GETTING THE BALL PASSED TO HIM!!!!!
Ngumoha should be played more as should Neyoni in matches against the lesser teams…
This is a fault that SLOT IS GUILTY OF…and somethng he needs to correct. YNWA!!!
Frimpong is doing what kerkez is doing on the right side. Gakpo simply is not aligned with kerkez on the left. Ngumoha, Wirtz and even Ekitike can see the attacking prowess kerkez possess and they are more suitable on the left than gakpo.
Full agreement with Aldo Slot needs to use Rio
more he is a player who will give 120% every game
use him if Lucky is as good as good bring him into the team, we have gone from from three or four goal scorers to one in the last game it can not be done, but more importantly we need a full back-centre back.
WE have talked about Guehi for a year now when are we going to stop talking and sign him.
If we don’t make the signings then we will struggle to make top 4 which would be a disaster for the club.
When we won the league in 2020, we had an an awful season in 2021, now it’s happening again, in his defence Slot won league last year with Klopps team, but i don’t know what has gone wrong this season, too much money spent on mediocre players
I just feel he is out of options, and he is confused if not, so there are so many games he will not use
Slot should be sacked, he is favouring his fellow countrymen yet they are not doing well
I think Slot can try Rio on the left, have Gakpo lead the line and Cheisa on the right. It’s just Cheisa is lacking game time and even Slot doesn’t trust in his own signings. Also, our team lacks a real defensive midfielder, try and get Baleba.
Slot has run out of ideas and does not trust his players…the youngster is a gem and he must be given an opportunity
Slot’s tactics are lacking – during Klopp’s time, on the left flank the ball was played fast to the byline and then cut back into the box. But under Slot, the slow backwards and sideways passes allow the opposition players to crown their box yet as LVP approach the box the pass the ball centrally where there’s no space as the box is crowded leaving no space for penetration. Then he’ll complain of “Low block”