Liverpool Suffers Fresh Injury Scare After Arne Slot Forced into Substitution vs Barnsley

Liverpool FC endured a tense moment in their FA Cup clash against Barnsley as promising young winger Rio Ngumoha suffered an injury scare, prompting manager Arne Slot to make an early substitution.

The match, part of Liverpool's packed schedule, saw the Reds dominating possession early on at Oakwell Stadium. Ngumoha, the 18-year-old sensation who joined from Chelsea's academy last summer, dazzled with his pace and trickery on the left flank. In the 22nd minute, however, he went down clutching his hamstring after a sharp turn to beat his marker. Concerns mounted among fans and staff as he received lengthy treatment on the pitch.

Slot, visibly frustrated, opted to withdraw Ngumoha to avoid risking a long-term issue, replacing him with Federico Chiesa. The Dutch coach later confirmed post-match that initial assessments were encouraging, describing it as a "precautionary measure" amid Liverpool's injury woes. "Rio felt a tweak, but scans tomorrow will tell the full story. We can't afford another setback," Slot said.

The incident overshadowed Liverpool's 2-0 victory, with goals from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo securing progression. Barnsley, a League One side, put up a spirited fight, hitting the woodwork twice and forcing a strong save from Alisson Becker. Despite the win, the mood in the away end was tempered by fears over Ngumoha's fitness—he's already contributed 4 goals and 3 assists this season.

This fresh scare adds to Liverpool's defensive injury crisis, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate sidelined. Slot praised the squad's depth but urged caution: "Young talents like Rio are our future, but we must protect them." Supporters now await scan results, hoping the teen avoids the curse of early promise cut short, echoing past stars' setbacks.

Liverpool eyes the next Premier League test against Manchester United, but Ngumoha's status remains the big question mark.