Rio Ngumoha change explained as Arne Slot makes 'really special' Liverpool admission
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Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballLiverpool FCLiverpool boss Arne Slot has detailed the tactical change that benefited Rio Ngumoha at Nottingham Forest on SundayArne Slot has explained the thinking behind the tactical change that allowed teenager Rio Ngumoha to turn the game in Liverpool's favour during a dramatic afternoon at Nottingham Forest.Alexis Mac Allister scored the only goal in the seventh minute of additional time to earn the Reds a 1-0 triumph at the City Ground on Sunday and maintain hopes of a top-four finish and Champions League qualification.Ngumoha was brought on with 13 minutes remaining and created an opportunity that eventually led to a strike from Mac Allister in the 90th minute that, while disallowed, gave Liverpool belief of an unlikely victory following a poor first-half performance.READ MORE: Arne Slot left fuming as Alexis Mac Allister delivers unusual Liverpool responseREAD MORE: 'I fully agree' - Virgil van Dijk makes Liverpool mentality point after Nottingham Forest dramaIt was the 17-year-old's ninth Premier League outing of the season having scored with almost his first touch on his debut in the competition to earn a 3-2 win at Newcastle United back in August.Ngumoha has now featured in six of Liverpool's last 10 games, all when initially beginning on the left flank.But Slot said: "I brought him in on the left but for 10 minutes I don't think he even touched the ball."So then I changed it, I changed Federico (Chiesa) and Rio to play on the right as our attacks went more down the right than the left."And he had that one great action where he outplayed Neco Williams and Hugo (Ekitike) had a big, big, big, chance, missed it, it went in on the rebound but it was disallowed."It's nice for Rio, there's no 17-year-old playing (as much in the Premier League) or maybe not an 18-year-old. For him to play that many minutes is really special."Speaking to LFC TV, Slot added: "Seven months ago was the last time we were lucky and he was involved in that goal and that moment.
Nice for him and nice for us."Newcastle was where we were maybe a bit lucky and seven months later we are for the second time this season maybe a bit lucky."Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.Liverpool FCArne SlotRio Ngumoha