Liverpool must get out of their own way and start Rio Ngumoha versus West Ham
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As shown by his decision to bench Mohamed Salah after a poor run of form compounded by the forward’s incendiary comments following the draw with Leeds United, Liverpool boss Arne Slot has repeatedly demonstrated that no player is bigger than the club — and that no starting XI spot is ever guaranteed.That’s why many Reds supporters have been puzzled by the manager’s apparent reluctance to sit Cody Gakpo, who is currently enduring one of his most difficult spells in a Liverpool shirt.Granted, Gakpo is a Premier League–winning player who has delivered crucial contributions since arriving at Anfield and has been nothing but a committed servant to the club. However, based on what youngster Rio Ngumoha has shown in recent weeks, it should not be controversial to suggest that the 17-year-old deserves the nod for this weekend’s clash with West Ham United at Anfield.Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - Premier League | NurPhoto/GettyImagesA low risk, high-reward opportunity In his last two appearances off the bench, Ngumoha has already shown how decisive he can be.
While Rio has come within touching distance of two goal contributions in less than half an hour combined across his last two outings, Cody has now gone 564 (!) minutes of Premier League action since registering his last G/A. But, watching Rio — a player who, on current form, has a legitimate claim to start — could be exactly the spark needed to reignite his consistency and sharpen his edge.Timing is everything in a young player’s development, and for the most part, I’ve applauded the club’s caution in ensuring such a promising talent isn’t overexposed or burned out too soon.
On current evidence, there are tangible, on-pitch qualities Rio is displaying that Cody Gakpo simply has not been able to provide in recent weeks.Nottingham Forest v Liverpool - Premier League - City Ground | Nick Potts - PA Images/GettyImagesA differing skillsetBeyond what shows up on the stat sheet, there have been numerous moments where Rio has demonstrated a range of skills and instincts that Cody has struggled to replicate at any point this season.First — and perhaps most noticeable — is Rio’s ability to inject an unpredictable spark into his play. It’s the kind of play that’s simply beyond his years.While Gakpo has occasionally been asked to play as a center forward this season — and, to be fair, he delivered what should have been a late equalizer against Fulham while shouldering that role — he has simply not demonstrated enough positional versatility throughout the campaign.It’s a small sample size, but Rio appears comfortable operating virtually anywhere in the attacking third, whereas Cody remains largely tethered to the left-hand side for the majority of matches.This isn’t to say I’ve given up on Cody turning his form around during the crucial final stretch of the season.