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Despite not having played in the same game as them, Rio Ngumoha, 16, was one of Liverpool’s biggest summer signings who made their Anfield debut.
The Reds faced Athletic Bilbao in an unusual double header, with their first teams facing off at 20:00 BST and their second XI meeting loosely at 17:00 BST.
In the opening five minutes, England Under-17 forward Ngumoha recorded a goal and an assist record.
The scorecard included Harvey Elliott, Ben Doak, and Darwin Nunez, who also had a role in the 4-1 decision.
Arne Slot signed a summer contract worth £263.5 million later in the first-team game.
A year after it was agreed, the agreement between midfielder Florian Wirtz, forward Hugo Ekitike, full-backs Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili was finalized.
However, Cody Gakpo probably stole the show with a score of two goals in the right-hand corner and one in his own goal as Liverpool won 3-1. The opener was scored by Mohamed Salah before a penalty was skidded over.
Ngumoha hype is “hard to put a lid on.”
Ngumoha, who turns 17 later this month, once more lit up in the pre-season, leaving fans wondering if he could make the first team this year.
The second-youngest Liverpool player to have started this friendly on the left wing, and he caught the eye like he has all summer.
The teenager ran onto a loose ball in his own half in the second minute before running in front and curling a strong effort in from 20 yards.
He nodded a Doak cross down for Darwin Nunez to convert from close range just three minutes later.
As Curtis Jones exhorted Liverpool fans to show their appreciation, they were singing his name.
And he dribbled and tricked, giving the La Liga team all kinds of problems.
Midway through the second half, the 16-year-old paused for a standing ovation.
Gary Gillespie, an ex-Reds defender, described him as “an excellent prospect” on LFC TV.
It’s difficult to keep expectations in check, according to one author.
Slot continued, “Rio is always displaying things during the pre-season.”
In Asian friendlies, Ngumoha scored in both a goal and an assist against AC Milan and a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos.
Although unproven, he appears to be a good talent, and he’ll be hoping for more first-team competitive games.
Ngumoha, who was 16 years and 135 days old when Liverpool beat Accrington in the FA Cup 4-0 win, became the youngest player to start a game for the club in January.
He never made the bench for a Premier League game, and that was his only first-team appearance.
With so many changes on the front line for Liverpool, that could change this year.
The main focus of Liverpool’s pre-season was the sad loss of center forward Diogo Jota in a car accident. Before and after the game at Anfield, he received tributes.
Nunez is a target for Saudi Pro League clubs after Luis Diaz’s wing was sold to Bayern Munich.
A departure for Nunez would leave Salah, Ekiti, and Gakpo as the Reds’ only real strong frontline options, giving them a chance to break through like Ngumoha.
That is unless they are able to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle. Initial bids of £110 million have been rejected.
Last week, Ngumoha said, “I’m not trying to rush because I’m still young.
“But I also want to show the manager what I can do without becoming too complacent.” For me and the club, all I want to do is make things bigger and better.
Ngumoha originally graduated from Chelsea’s youth program, but he did not.
This boy is and will be a top player, according to Blues legend John Terry at the time.
Slot’s Liverpool 2.0 exhibits promising traits.
Even with the exception of fringe player Federico Chiesa, Slot managed to capture the Premier League title in his first season.
He is now creating his own team, though. And the predictions for a fluid 4-2-3-1 are encouraging.
The £100m German attacking midfielder, Wirtz, had some exciting flashes in the first half with some outstanding touches, and he occasionally even managed to score.
Frimpong’s right-back style was similar to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s, who is currently playing for Real Madrid, who was better at attacking than defending.
The Dutchman did well at Anfield, up and down the flank, but he did not manage to convert the Oihan Sancet equalizer with a free kick.
Kerkez, a former Bournemouth left-back, looked good. Before setting up Salah’s opener, Ekitike was lively and rushed to the byeline.
Gakpo scored his second goal of the match after the Frenchman almost scored his first Anfield goal.
Well, his third, with the unintentional header from a Maroan Sannadi movie into his own net.
Center-back still has a problem. Wataro Endo and Virgil van Dijk had to start at the backfield while Joe Gomez was injured and Virgil van Dijk was ill.
Then, there are positions for other players out of position or young players. Or both. Trey Nyoni, 18, a midfielder, had to play there in the first game.
“Today we hardly ever conceded anything in terms of chances,” Slot said, “which pleased me.”
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