Online Reporter
RIO NGUMOHA will be hoping to light up Liverpool’s season – after shining in pre-season.
The Reds youngster is only 16 but has played a key role in Arne Slot’s preparations for the new campaign, including a stunning solo goal on Monday.
The ‘‘second XI’’ Liverpool team beat their Athletic Bilbao counterparts 4-1 as Ngumoha ran from his own half and curled in from 20 yards out in the second minute.
By the fifth, he had added an assist, too, by nodding a header down for Darwin Nunez before being subbed off to a standing ovation in the second half.
Liverpool poached teenage winger Ngumoha, who turns 17 on August 29, from Chelsea.
The Reds were impressed by his goalscoring performance in the U17 Premier League Cup final win against Wolves in April 2024 – and the Blues could not stop his move to Merseyside.
Angry Chelsea responded by blocking Liverpool scouts from attending Chelsea youth matches.
John Terry wrote at the time: “This boy is and will be a top player.”
He became the second-youngest starter in Liverpool history aged 16 years and 135 days when they played Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup in January.
Now after his superb pre-season, the former Chelsea academy star could feature in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday – then make his Premier League debut.
Nguhoma expressed his belief he can “win the Ballon d’Or one day” before even making a senior appearance when he boldly declared: ‘‘I want to be regarded as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of the game.”
But while the England youth star has a long way to go to realise those dreams, team-mate Andy Robertson is confident the kid will be a nightmare for Premier League full-backs.
Robertson told The Anfield Wrap: “He’s not bad, is he?
“He’s a good kid as well and he’s got a fantastic head on his shoulders. Especially when he’s got people like Mo [Salah] who can help him so much.
“Obviously that’s the last two games now I’ve played with Rio in front of me and he just keeps on coming on and he’s got a hell of a future ahead of him but the here and now looks pretty good as well.”
Gary Gillespie added to LFC TV: “He is such an excellent prospect. The difficulty is managing expectations but it’s hard to put a lid on it.’’
And Slot beamed: ‘‘Rio is showing things every time in pre-season.’’
But Ngumoha is not the only English teenager hoping to make their mark on the Premier League this season . . .
Trey Nyoni, 18 – Liverpool
Ngumoha’s team-mate Nyoni held the previous record for Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup player – and is club’s youngest player in European football.
The central midfielder was snatched from Leicester with a tribunal needed – but is now fully focused on adding to his six first-team games for Slot’s side.
Will Wright, 17 – Liverpool
Striker Wright signed from Salford this week after making his professional bow last season but will likely be in Rob Page’s U21s set-up.
Max Dowman, 15 – Arsenal
Arsenal fans are getting very excited about “special” playmaker Dowman, who has had to wait to get his Premier League debut as he started last season aged 14. Premier League rules state players must not be below the Under-16s age group in order to be named in a matchday squad.
But few would bet against Dowman, who impressed in the Far East in recent weeks, following in the footsteps of Arsenal pal Ethan Nwaneri and Leicester’s Jeremy Monga last season by starring in the topflight before his 16th birthday on New Year’s Eve.
Divine Mukasa, 17 – Man City
Attacking midfielder Mukasa won back-to-back FA Youth Cup titles – in 2023 with West Ham then 2024 with Man City.
Also eligible for Lithuania and Uganda, he has played across three youth ages for England.
Shim Mheuka, 17 – Chelsea
Mheuka was born in Birmingham, had a spell at Brighton and is now at Chelsea, where the versatile forward got one minute in the Prem but made four appearances on the way to Conference League glory under Enzo Maresca in 2024-25.
Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Nicolas Jackson are fighting for the No9 spot and Mheuka faces a tough battle to get any minutes on the wings.
Josh King, 18 – Fulham
Not the Norwegian Josh King who played for Bournemouth, this is the English midfielder who made eight Premier League appearances for Fulham last term.
Harry Howell, 17 – Brighton
Attacking midfielder Howell came on for his Premier League debut as Brighton beat champions Liverpool in May.
He is the cousin of Seagulls midfielder Jack Hinshelwood.
Ayden Heaven, 18 – Man Utd
Made a high-profile transfer from Arsenal in February and immediately thrown into the first-team set-up by Ruben Amorim.
A strong left-footed defender, Heaven will put his comical own goal against Everton behind him and challenge the senior internationals at Old Trafford.
Harry Amass, 18 – Man Utd
Alongside Heaven, he could be joined by fellow Young Lions star, left-back Amass.
The ex-Watford teen made his senior United debut on his 18th birthday at Leicester in March, played twice in the Europa League final run and could be the future solution to the left-back struggles.
Jayden Meghoma, 19 – Brentford
Left-back Meghoma was also part of that U19 Euros squad after working through the England youth ranks. The ex-Southampton defender made four Brentford appearances last term – as well as 14 on loan at Preston.
Mateus Mane, 17 – Wolves
Mane was in such high demand last season that Portugal and England both called him up at the same time – and the forward chose the latter.
Born in Portugal, he moved to Manchester as a child and rattled in seven goals in 15 U18 Premier League last season to earn his top-flight debut. – Sun
