Liverpool came away with three points against Nottingham Forest on Sunday despite putting in one of their worst performances of a disappointing 2025-26 season, and while the team did get better in the second
half after a very bad first, most felt it was the late introduction of Rio Ngumoha when things really improved.
The young attacker made a noticeable and immediate impact coming on for Cody Gakpo on the left wing, and the 17-year-old was key difference maker in the action leading up to Liverpool’s first, albeit ruled out, stoppage time goal and then the second, which fortunately for the Reds stood after a second lengthy VAR review.
“I know I need to at least do something to try to impact the game,” Ngumoha said of his mindset when coming on to the pitch as a substitute on Sunday afternoon. “Whether that’s on the ball or off the ball, putting in a tackle, pressing to win the ball back, putting balls in the box, having shots on target, or just beating my man.
“I just think every single time I’m called on for the team I want to show everyone what I can do really, just keep pushing and gaining the manager’s trust, and hopefully that leads to more minutes. I feel like if you are not playing as much then you can stagnate, so I want to gain more minutes—any games I can play, I will.”
Ngumoha has been limited to late substitute appearances in the league, and while that has led to calls for the young winger to perhaps start on occasion, it’s worth acknowledging that coming on towards the end of matches against tired legs is putting him in the best position to succeed and to make a difference for the team.
Even if it may be too early to reasonably expect the youngster to make the same sort of impact starting against fresh legs, though, it does seem increasingly clear Ngumoha does deserve more playing time, even if just by coming off the bench earlier. His nine run-outs in the league so far have added up to just 89 minutes.
