John Aldridge has called on Arne Slott to promote Rio Ngumogha into Liverpool’s starting XI but he doesn’t think that will happen against Galatasaray on Tuesday.
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The 17-year-old has earned (justified) rave reviews for his recent performances, with him starting in last Friday’s FA Cup win over Wolves, with Danny Murphy saying the winger’s performances at Molineux have given his manager a “headache”.
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Steven Gerrard and Jermaine Pennant have also backed the teenager to be included in the starting XI more regularly and he joins the senior squad for tonight’s Champions League tie in Istanbul.
Aldridge doesn’t think Ngumoha will start in Istanbul
In his latest column for the Liverpool Echo, Aldridge believes Slott will not expose Ngumogha to hostility at Rams Park from the first whistle, but implores the Dutchman to select the youngster from the start against relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur next weekend.
The former Reds striker wrote: “I think we as fans know him [Ngumoha] More games should start. I’m not necessarily saying that I’m against Galatasaray because it’s a big pot. Can he handle it? I think he can, but it might work against him and I think Arne Slaughter will be looking for experience and I understand that.
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“But next Sunday at Anfield against Tottenham, why not? 100 per cent Tottenham are struggling at the moment. Everything is not going their way.
“I don’t want to say they’re waiting to be taken away, but seriously you have to start the lad against Tottenham and give him at least 70 minutes and see how he does because without experience he’s not going to grow that fast.”
“I think everyone agrees, from what we’ve seen, he deserves a start. Not Galatasaray, certainly Tottenham.
Ngumogha may not start tonight, but he’s not far away
Ngumogha has featured in a handful of Champions League games this season, but both came as a substitute at Anfield when the stakes were relatively low (Liverpool’s first league stage game was against Atletico Madrid, while Qarabag had already secured victory and a place in the top eight).
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It’s another thing entirely to have him play his final knockout game in a frenetic atmosphere at Rams Park, and while the 17-year-old has looked fearless every time he’s featured for the first team so far, Slott’s caution tonight was understandable.
The last thing we want is for the teen to have a rough night at the office right off the bat, leading to harsh criticism of his performance and a blow to his highest self-confidence to date.
If Liverpool need Ngumogha in Istanbul, he clearly has the ability to make a game-changing impact as a substitute and we have no doubt he will relish the chance to face a Tottenham side who are going through an existential crisis at Anfield on Sunday.
If (and it’s a big if) the Reds perform well at Rams Park and pull off a big win that all but ends the campaign, the 17-year-old is likely to make his full Champions League debut at home next week.
We don’t think tonight will come for the reasons Aldridge outlined, but given the teen’s career trajectory, it certainly can’t be too far away.
