Rio 'will not get carried away with the noise'

Rio Ngumoha fires in Liverpool's late winner against Newcastle United at St James' Park 

and (inset below) celebrates becoming the Reds' youngest ever goalscorer 

DANIEL CHESTERTON/OFFSIDE

TEEN STAR PROMISES TO STAY GROUNDED DESPITE STUNNING LATE WINNER

By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer

Liverpool Echo - 27 Aug 2025

RIO NGUMOHA has revealed the advice given to him by the coaching staff at Liverpool that helped him become a Reds record-breaker.

Ngumoha became the youngest goalscorer in the club's history when he stepped off the bench to net a dramatic injury-time winner and earn a 3-2 Premier League triumph at Newcastle United on Monday evening.

The winger, who only turns 17 on Fri- day, had been introduced for his top- flight debut just four minutes earlier with Liverpool having thrown away a two-goal lead against their 10-man hosts. 

Ngumoha's moment came when he arrived unmarked at the far post to convert a low cross from Mohamed Salah that had been dummied into his path by Dominik Szoboszlai.

And the teenager explained: "Normally, last season espe- cially, the Academy coaches and the first-team coaches are always saying 'make the back post, make the back post. 

"The fact that I made the back post is just crazy. When I saw it with Mo and then Dom putting it through his legs, I was like one-v-one and I just smashed it.

"I think Dom just knew I was there. He said to me in the changing rooms 'I just hoped you were there!! I backed myself to score. It was just crazy.

"The fans, I heard them screaming my name and that's a sensational moment I would say. But you can't get too carried away with all the noise because at the end of the day I probably do that finish 100 times on the training ground so it's no different with the fans (here). But obviously the fans backing you here, it's just crazy."

Recalling the moment he was given the call from Liverpool boss Arne Slot, Ngumoha added: "It was crazy. He looked at me and pointed at me and said get ready. You just have to come on and make an impact and luckily I did that. It was just a proud moment. I'm buzzing! I'm so happy to score, espe- cially the winner. A good moment, a special feeling, I'm definitely happy."

Ngumoha, an arrival from Chelsea 12 months ago, has already raced through the Academy ranks and made his senior debut in the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley back in January before impressing during pre-season. 

But the youngster knows he has a long way to go before establishing himself as a regular in the first-team squad.

"I'm 16 but I don't want my age to show that I can't play with the older players," he said to liverpoolfc.com. "I want to prove a point that I can play with not just people my age but many ages above.

"There are people at the club who are always helping me and I'm always learning and improving, so I can't complain.

"(I'm) learning from them and training with them every day. You learn so many things, such as how professional they are and what they have done to reach the top level. I'm learning from them every day, it's special. I just have to keep going. I hope it's the first of many goals, but it's back to training tomor- row. I have to prove once again to the man- ager what I can do."

***

Remember the name... Reds' youngest scorer

By IAN DOYLE Chief LFC Writer 

ian.doyle@reachplc.com @lanDoyleSport

REGARDLESS of what Rio Ngumoha achieves in his career, it will be hard to top this extraordinary Premier League debut.

After Liverpool had recklessly squandered a two-goal lead against a 10-man Newcastle, Arne Slot took a risk by bringing on Ngumoha, the 16-year-old forward, alongside Harvey Elliott. 

The continuous set-piece pressure from the home side meant that Ngumoha had to wait a while before being brought on six minutes into a frantic extra time period. And as he has already demonstrated since moving to the Reds from Chelsea a year ago, he doesn't hang about when it comes to making an impact. 

Ngumoha, who celebrates his 17th birthday on Friday, had already excited the away fans perched in the St. James' Park stands with a powerful run down the left wing when his moment came just four minutes into his Premier League career. 

As Liverpool surged forward, Mohamed Salah sent a low ball across the pitch that Dominik Szoboszlai cleverly let pass, setting up Ngumoha to deliver the final blow.

Without a second thought, he fired a first-time shot with his right foot into the bottom corner, leaving Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope rooted to the spot and sending the travelling fans into raptures.

The winger sprinted toward the corner flag before being swamped by teammates who were both thrilled for the teenager and relieved that their young colleague had rescued them from a predicament entirely of their own creation. 

If Ngumoha's performances within the Liverpool youth ranks had already earned him a senior start in the FA Cup victory over Accrington Stanley in January, it was during preseason when he truly turned heads by more than holding his own among the seniors.

Now, he has become the club's youngest-ever goalscorer, taking over from Ben Woodburn.

After the final whistle, with the Liverpool fans chanting his name, Ngumoha needed a friendly nudge from Reds boss Slot to step forward and soak up the applause.

The only other 16-year-old to score a winning goal in a Premier League match? Wayne Rooney.

Rooney was actually one day older than the Liverpool youngster when he famously scored against Arsenal for Everton in October 2002.

Ngumoha has been the talk of Academy football for several years. Now, however, the wider world will have to remember the name. 

What an unforgettable night.