Liverpool’s 16-year-old matchwinning sensation Rio Ngumoha could have joined Manchester United if things had played out differently, it has emerged.
In a thrilling 3-2 victory over Newcastle United, who had Anthony Gordon sent off for a nasty challenge on Virgil van Dijk at the end of the first half, the wonderkid came off the substitute to score the game-winning goal in the closing seconds.
Despite not playing at their best, Liverpool took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike. However, a determined Newcastle team rallied and equalized through goals from Will Osula and Bruno Guimaraes.
However, Ngumoha’s brilliant strike in the tenth minute of extra time gave the Premier League champions the victory, undoing 10-man Newcastle in the closing seconds.
Only minutes before, the teenage winger had replaced Cody Gakpo as a substitute with Harvey Elliott, making him the fourth-youngest goal scorer in Premier League history.
Ngumoha’s stellar preseason performances helped Liverpool decide to let go of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, and he made a significant impact in his Premier League debut on Monday night.
Following his early academy years at Chelsea, he signed in 2024. Blues great John Terry once said that Ngumoha “is and will be a top, top player.”
From an early age, Ngumoha attended the academies of Manchester City, Everton, and Liverpool before joining Chelsea.
Afterward, as he was leaving west London, he went to Manchester United to hear what the 13-time Premier League champions had in store for him.
The Athletic claims that although United was “pushing hard” to recruit Ngumoha, they eventually conceded defeat after admitting they were trailing Liverpool in the battle.
Arne Slot comments on Rio Ngumoha performance
Last season, Ngumoha made his Liverpool debut as a starter in a 4-0 victory over Accrington Stanley, and their defeat was Liverpool’s gain.
After his exploits in St. James’ Park, Ngumoha is expected to play a bigger role this time around, but that was his sole appearance.
Arne Slot praised Ngumoha’s traits and his brave attitude for someone who isn’t 17 until the end of the week after the victory.
Slot remarked, “He’s a player who can finish really well for his age.”
“His shot was really hard; for a 16-year-old, this is uncommon.
After that, I heard someone in the locker room—I won’t name them—say that they would have taken the ball, touched it once, and then finished it off. However, he exudes confidence.
I appreciate that he wasn’t scared when he got the first ball. He took someone on right away. He went across him as the second player arrived, and since he is a fantastic finisher for his age, it is not entirely coincidental that he scored that goal.
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