This video can not be played

Ngumoha scores as Liverpool beat Fulham

The strains of Duran Duran's 80s hit 'Rio' swept around Anfield after the pressure and scrutiny that has been closing in on head coach Arne Slot and Liverpool was relieved - for now - by victory against Fulham. It was played in celebration of the brilliance of Rio Ngumoha. He was born 26 years after the song was released – but on this day it was a timely soundtrack of celebration after the 17-year-old delivered an electrifying performance to lift the mood of discontent hanging over Liverpool.

Ngumoha not only answered their call for inspiration in these troubled times with a goal and a starring role in this 2-0 win against Fulham that kept Liverpool fifth in the Premier League - he also gave Slot a dilemma. Does he now start the teenage prodigy in a game that could play a part in shaping his own future as well as this current team's?

Anfield was not a happy place before kick-off as Liverpool fans expressed their anger at events on and off the pitch in what has, so far, been a season of suffering. The Kop, Anfield's heartbeat, was an unfamiliar sight as the giant flags which form such an integral part of the atmosphere and celebrate the club's rich history were missing as part of a protest by fans' groups against proposed ticket price increases by Liverpool owners FSG. It made for a highly effective visible – or non-visible – peaceful protest, while a group of supporters marched along the front of The Kop after the game started parading a giant banner emblazoned with the words: "No To Ticket Price Increases".

The protests continued with colourfully critical chants against FSG, the cleaned-up message being "Enough Is Enough". Liverpool started against this backdrop following heavy criticism after the FA Cup quarter-final thrashing at Manchester City, followed by the gross timidity of the 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg in Paris. Slot, and Liverpool, needed a spark with the season – and perhaps the Dutchman's future – at a pivotal point.

Liverpool returned to winning ways with victory against Fulham. Step forward Ngumoha to provide it - and to leave Liverpool's supporters who were thrilled by his performance posing a crucial question. If fortune favours the brave, will Slot have the courage to start Ngumoha in an attempt to retrieve that deficit when the Champions League holders come to Anfield for Tuesday's second leg? Including Ngumoha would be the high-risk strategy, and Slot's natural default position has been conservatism this season. He will also be wary of PSG's threat on the counter-attack that has torn apart better teams than this current Liverpool side.

The other side of the argument asks what Slot has to lose? Slot has managed Ngumoha's minutes carefully and was playing his cards close to his chest afterwards. "In this game Rio showed why I play him more and more and more, because he is getting stronger and stronger, fitter and fitter, and more and more ready to already play at this level at 17 years of age," said Slot. "He dominated his one v one situation, which is crucial, and that is why we went 1-0 up."

Former Liverpool and England defender Stephen Warnock told BBC Radio 5 Live that Slot needed to be "careful" with the teenager but that he had "earned his right to play". "You've got to drip feed him in as and when you can," he said. "However, the one thing I would say is that his performances are better than Cody Gakpo's at the moment, so Liverpool fans are looking at that and thinking 'he should be playing'.

"The question now is who starts in the forward positions on Tuesday, particularly that left-hand side? Will it be Ngumoha to start and then Gakpo comes on at a later point? Because he's earned his right to play."

This video can not be played

Ngumoha getting 'stronger and stronger' - Slot

Against Fulham, Ngumoha was Liverpool's biggest threat, scoring a superb curling opener with skill and precision after 36 minutes, then playing a part four minutes later when Mohamed Salah showed some of the old magic remains with a finish of similar accuracy and technique to seal a win that keeps Slot's side in the Champions League places. He was a constant threat on Liverpool's left-flank, receiving a deserved standing ovation when he was substituted after 69 minutes. Was it to preserve energies for Tuesday? Or was it simply because Slot felt Ngumoha had done enough?

Former Liverpool midfield man Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports: "Rio gives you a great option from the bench for the PSG game, but who knows? "If they did start him I wouldn't be surprised, but I think right now if I'm trying to pick Liverpool's best team for a game, I like the midfield they ended the game with. It was Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, which is the midfield which pretty much won Liverpool the league last year, and I also think it might be a game where Hugo Ekitike starts as the nine, and you might need Florian Wirtz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right. That feels like it has a nice shape to it. With Alexander Isak to come off the bench if you need him, then also Rio to give you a bit of 'X-Factor'."

The odds are probably against Ngumoha starting, but most observers (including this one) would suggest he is contributing more than the subdued Gakpo. Only Wayne Rooney, at 17 years and 51 days, and Cesc Fabregas, at 17 years and 113 days, have started a Premier League game and scored at a younger age than Liverpool's Ngumoha, at 17 years and 225 days. He is a guaranteed star of the future. Will Slot be bold enough to make him a star of Liverpool's present by playing him against PSG?

Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views

Ask about Liverpool - what do you want to know?

Comments can not be loaded

To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser