Arne Slot sent clear Rio Ngumoha message after Jamie Carragher's Liverpool demand
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballRio NgumohaRio Ngumoha injected energy into the game when he came on as a substitute against Nottingham Forest and provided the assist for Liverpool's first goalSam Allardyce has urged Arne Slot to start turning to Rio Ngumoha earlier in matches after the teenager's latest eye‑catching cameo in Liverpool's 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest last weekend. Most teams have players of different ages and physicality."Despite Slot's comments, there has been calls for the Dutch boss to hand Ngumoha more minutes going forward."It's great to be able to come on as a sub," Allardyce said."You can have him [Rio Ngumoha] on from the start when everybody is up and at it and fresh, but if you bring him on with 20 minutes to go when the level and tempo is going down and there's that bit more space, then he can flourish.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE!
All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page"I would leave Ngumoha on the bench for the moment, but Slot can bring him on sooner now. It's easier to build his confidence that way than to put him in from the start, which may not work."That said, the starters who aren’t playing very well will be looking over their shoulder, knowing they’ve got to raise their game or else he'll take their place."Carragher also argued that Ngumoha deserves a run in Slot's line-up, given what he brings to a forward line currently lacking pace and unpredictability.Content cannot be displayed without consent"Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that.
He changed the game and needs to be starting games," Carragher said on Sky Sports after the Forest game."I think at some stage, Rio Ngumoha has got to come into the team, or he may have to go with another midfield player or lose a Gakpo or a Salah. I think Liverpool's penetration and pace in the wide areas is really lacking."Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source.