Ex-Liverpool players call for teenage star Rio Ngumoha to start more games as Mohamed Salah criticised

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Liverpool’s teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha should start more games for the club, ex-players Jamie Carragher and Daniel Sturridge have said, following his impressive cameo against Nottingham Forest on Sunday.Ngumoha is yet to start a Premier League game but came off the bench for the ninth time this season at Forest and was instrumental in turning the game in Liverpool’s favour.The champions toiled for much of the game until Arne Slot replaced first-choice wingers Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo with Federico Chiesa and Ngumoha. “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.

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s winner (Getty)After Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at the City Ground, the manager defended his cautious approach.“He has incredible potential, otherwise at 17 years of age you don’t play as many minutes as he does in the Premier League, let alone at Liverpool,” said Slot. “I don’t think there is any other 17-year-old who has played as many minutes in the Premier League as he did [Wolves’ Mateus Mane has played more].

I don’t think there is an 18-year-old or 19-year-old that has maybe played as many minutes as Rio, but that last bit I’m not sure [several teenagers, such as Leny Yoro, Lewis Miley and Archie Gray, have played more minutes this season].“That tells you how much of a talent he is and we think he is. Apart from his moment when he had his one v one, there were also one or two other moments where he stands his ground.