Sturridge demands more Ngumoha minutes

Liverpool’s 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest was about survival for lengthy spells, however Daniel Sturridge nonetheless got here away speaking about one second that modified the temper.

Liverpool’s former No.15 used X to reward Rio Ngumoha after the 17-year-old winger injected urgency right into a sport that had been flat for much too lengthy.

The England youth worldwide got here on within the 77th minute for Mo Salah, who had struggled to affect the sport, and Ngumoha instantly performed as if he had been ready weeks for the prospect.

Sturridge didn’t overcomplicate what he noticed: “Each time I watch Rio Ngumoha, he seems electrical. Direct, fearless, all the time making an attempt to have an effect on the sport. He deserves extra minutes. Easy as that”

That opinion additionally lined up with Arne Slot’s post-match feedback after the late Alexis Mac Allister winner, as a result of our head coach pointed to Ngumoha’s influence as a key motive we lastly created one thing decisive.

“The primary aim was due to him. A terrific cross on the top of Hugo Ekitike, which you’d count on to be a aim. It was a superb one v one which is what this sport wanted.

“He already performs an enormous half for a 17-year-old. It tells you the way an enormous of expertise he’s.”

Rio Ngumoha vs Forest influence

It’s uncommon to see a 13-minute cameo carry actual weight in a Premier League away win, however that was precisely what occurred on the Metropolis Floor.

Ngumoha solely had 11 touches, but he accomplished two profitable dribbles, delivered an ideal cross, and created an enormous likelihood, together with his anticipated assists quantity doing the loudest speaking (by way of Sofascore).

Participant
Minutes
Score
xA
Profitable dribbles
Crosses (correct)

Rio Ngumoha
13
7.3
0.42
2/3
1 (1)

Mo Salah
77
6.2
0.23
0/0
4 (0)

Cody Gakpo
77
7.0
0.02
0/1
2(1)

What Ngumoha gave us that we lacked

This match had been disjointed from the warm-up onwards, with Florian Wirtz injured late, Curtis Jones drafted in, and Liverpool shuffling roles mid-game simply to seek out some management.

Forest have been sharper within the first half, we couldn’t hold the ball, and even the second half drifted till the closing stretch.

Alexis Mac Allister shared his disgust with the efficiency and had it not been for the win, the temper would have been very totally different.

That’s the reason Ngumoha mattered, as a result of {the teenager} performed with the form of direct intention that forces a defensive position to react somewhat than wait.

Liverpool ended up successful in chaos, however the spark that made chaos doable got here from a fearless 17-year-old who performed just like the second belonged to him.