Liverpool kicked off their 2025-26 Premier League campaign in thrilling fashion with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on Friday night. Teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha, signed from Chelsea’s academy, was included on the bench but did not feature under new head coach Arne Slot.
Ngumoha caught the eye in pre-season with two goals and two assists, seizing his chance to impress the coaching staff. His performances have already drawn high praise, with Wayne Rooney tipping him as Liverpool’s breakout star and predicting both a league title for the Reds and another Golden Boot for Mohamed Salah following his prolific campaign last season.
Rooney also singled out Jeremie Frimpong as Liverpool’s most influential signing of the summer. The Dutch right-back, arriving from Bayer Leverkusen, scored on his debut against Crystal Palace and is expected to fill the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold following his move to Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, the departure of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich has opened up the left flank. Cody Gakpo appears set to take the role initially, with Hugo Ekitike also an option through the middle. Ekitike’s Premier League debut — a goal and an assist against Bournemouth — suggests he will play a central role, particularly with Darwin Núñez also gone and a replacement striker still unconfirmed.
Liverpool have shown interest in Newcastle forward Alexander Isak, though the Magpies’ £150m valuation could prevent a deal. Should a transfer fail to materialize, Ngumoha could see more minutes than expected this season, despite only turning 17 later this month.
Slot is cautiously optimistic about the teenager’s development. Speaking during pre-season, he said:
“A player like Rio has already shown he can make an impact at this level. It’s a big advantage for him to train daily with players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah and learn from their professionalism. For young players of 16 or 17, it’s already a big step to play once a week at this level. We need to guide them carefully, because even players in their early twenties find the intensity of the Premier League demanding.”
With Díaz gone and Liverpool’s attacking options still being reshaped, Ngumoha’s pathway into the first team may arrive sooner than expected. The teenager’s potential is undeniable — now it’s a matter of when, not if, he will seize his chance
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