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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot(Image: LFC TV)

Awaiting the arrival of Arne Slot on Friday morning, the buzz around the gathered hacks at the AXA Training Centre was very much centred on one player.

How best to negotiate Liverpool's ongoing interest in Alexander Isak?

As expected, the Reds head coach neatly sidestepped the discussion by maintaining the stance of declining to overly talk about a player who wasn't part of his squad.

But if the subsequent line of questioning wasn't shy at addressing Liverpool's need for attacking reinforcement with Darwin Nunez edging ever nearer a £46million move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, there was another forward who has been a hot topic among Reds supporters this summer with whom Slot had no hesitation in discussing.

READ MORE:Arne Slot explains Mohamed Salah replacement plan after Liverpool transfer decisionREAD MORE:Arne Slot responds to Alexander Isak transfer and Liverpool centre-back questions - 'As you know'

The emergence of Rio Ngumoha - still several weeks short of his 17th birthday - has been a major positive of Liverpool's pre-season programme, which comes to an end with the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley on Sunday.

Ngumoha's impressive showings on the left flank have inevitably placed the spotlight on the teenager, who has raced through the ranks since arriving from Chelsea last year and already has a senior appearance under his belt.

He isn't the only youngster to shine in recent weeks, with 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni also demonstrating he has stepped up a level when featuring in both the engine room and, as against Athletic Bilbao on Monday, at centre-back.

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Ngumoha, though, is the one commanding headlines at present.

"That is sometimes difficult and you never know how an individual handles the situation," says Slot.

"A year ago, Trey Nyoni scored a goal against Sevilla when he was also 17, very young.

A player like Rio showed in the last few games that at senior level he can have an impact as well.

"They have an incredible chance to work and be around players like Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah and all these incredible players every day and see what they do to be ready to perform every three days.

"This is a step these players definitely have to make, which is completely normal at 16 or 17.

It is already nice if they can play well once a week at a good level.

"We try to develop them in the best way we can but also have to develop them because new players that are 24, 23, 22 have already experienced the intensity levels are quite high either during training or during the games, let alone for players who are 16 and coming through the Academy.

"We are aware of that but it’s been a promising start for him and Trey Nyoni because Trey also played a very good game at Anfield four days ago."

There was a subtle reminder of the tender years of the duo as they mingled at the AXA Training Centre among their fellow Academy youngsters, although both could feature with the first team at Wembley as Liverpool look to add to the Premier League trophy they won in emphatic fashion last season.

"It is nice if you can start the season with the chance of winning something," says Slot.

"Normally you have to play numerous games before you can win something.

"Unfortunately, we face a very good Crystal Palace that have been very difficult to win against for us, because we played 1-1 against them in the last game of the season.

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"They showed in the last (FA Cup) final – and even in the semi-final, by the way, as well – how difficult it is to win a one-off game (against) them."


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