By Sneha Santra

On February 22 at the City Ground, Liverpool needed a spark and they found it in a 17-year-old. Before Alexis Mac Allister buried the 97th-minute winner against Nottingham Forest, Rio Ngumoha had already shifted the tone of the game. 

Nottingham Forest: A Reality Check 

Thrown on in the 77th minute for Mohamed Salah, the teenager played with fearless intent, driving at defenders and creating openings in a brief but electric cameo. It may have lasted only 15 minutes, but it felt like a breakthrough, and a glimpse of a very bright future.

Ngumoha’s cameo stood out, but the circumstances on the Sunday afternoon made it more noticeable. The City Ground is not a forgiving one for young attackers. And to replace Liverpool’s one of the most established forward Mohammed Salah, it was more of creating a lasting impact.

In just over 15 minutes, Ngumoha recorded 11 touches with two successful dribbles and opened an opportunity for Hugo Ekitike. The chance was saved, by Forest’s Goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, but what was impressive? It is the pure intent behind it.

Credit: Liverpool.com

Behind all the numbers, his directness set the tempo, his unpredictability demolished the structure totally. Alexis 97th minute goal was not a result of a standalone moment! It was the very natural consequences of how Ngumoha showed up.

"Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did in the entire game before that," Carragher said, speaking as an analyst on Sky Sports. “He changed the game, and he needs to be starting games.”

Sturridge tweeted his own praise, posting on X: “Every time I watch Rio Ngumoha, he looks electric. Direct, fearless, always trying to affect the game. He deserves more minutes. Simple as that."

A Trust Placed in Rio

Credit: Liverpool.com

Ngumoha’s rise isn’t tied to a 2025 transfer gamble. It traces back to a decision Liverpool made in September 2024, when they signed the then-16-year-old from Chelsea’s academy for a development fee.

While the club explored elite attacking options in the 2025 summer window, including interest in Bradley Barcola, they ultimately leaned into what they had already seen from Ngumoha behind the scenes. The belief was built over months of rapid progress through the academy ranks and a senior debut in January 2025.

Regarding the Barcola links, French journalist Fabrice Hawkins confirmed back in November 2025: “Bayern Munich and Liverpool made very strong approaches. He seriously considered it. The contract extension situation will need to be followed closely.” Ultimately, a move did not materialise.

So, rather than committing massive funds (£100 million or more) to a ready-made star, Liverpool backed their own development pathway. At 17, Ngumoha represents long-term conviction over short-term spending and his fearless cameo against Forest might just be a trailer of what's about to come.

One For the Future vs. Years of Excellence

Credit: Yahoo Sports

Fifteen minutes was all it took for Ngumoha to jolt a Premier League game into life. The teenager’s direct running and urgency felt sharper than anyone expected, especially in a match where Mohamed Salah had earlier passed up key chances. The contrast was striking, a fearful young guy vs. the experience carrying the weight of expectation.

But moments can deceive if we let them. Ngumoha’s rise, though, hasn’t been built on one cameo. The 17-year-old announced himself loudly with a dramatic late winner against Newcastle, adding to an eye-catching pre-season where he delivered three goals and two assists. He has already become Liverpool’s youngest-ever player in European competition and continues to split time between academy and senior football.

He looks every bit a modern winger ready for the biggest stage. Yet framing this as Ngumoha versus Salah misses the point entirely. Salah’s legacy at Liverpool was forged over seasons of relentless output: 25-plus goals in seven of eight campaigns and numbers that place him among the club’s greatest ever.

Even in a quieter 2025/26 season, the 33-year-old has managed 15 G/A in 28 games across all competitions. So, a brief flash of brilliance cannot eclipse years of sustained excellence. That is the gap Ngumoha still has to bridge. Potential is intoxicating; legacy is earned.

Verdict