The Reds’ Future May Be Brighter Than Its Present

Liverpool fans packed Anfield expecting to see their blockbuster summer signings in action, but few could have predicted that the loudest cheers would be reserved for a 16-year-old academy prospect. In a rare double-header friendly against Athletic Bilbao, manager Arne Slot showcased two entirely different starting elevens — and it was the teenage sensation Rio Ngumoha who stole the show with a goal and assist within the first five minutes of the early game. ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿ”ฅ

While Liverpool’s big names like Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong made their Anfield bows in the later fixture, all eyes quickly shifted to a boy who wasn’t even born the last time Liverpool won the Champions League.

๐Ÿ•” Two Games, Two Lineups – A Tactical Glimpse into Slot’s Vision

Rio Ngumoha has scored two goals with two assists in pre-season for Liverpool [Getty Images]



Liverpool’s unique approach to this pre-season fixture saw their second XI face Bilbao at 17:00 BST, followed by the first-team squad at 20:00. This dual-match format gave fans the rare opportunity to watch both seasoned internationals and rising academy stars in one evening. ๐ŸŽŸ️๐Ÿ”

Slot’s early game squad featured promising talents such as Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott, and of course, Rio Ngumoha, who has become one of the most talked-about teenagers in English football.

In the second game, supporters finally witnessed the debut of Liverpool’s £263.5 million worth of new signings, including:

  • Florian Wirtz (£100M, Germany ๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช)

  • Hugo Ekitike (Forward ๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท)

  • Jeremie Frimpong (Right-back ๐Ÿ‡ณ๐Ÿ‡ฑ)

  • Milos Kerkez (Left-back ๐Ÿ‡ญ๐Ÿ‡บ)

  • Giorgi Mamardashvili (Goalkeeper ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช)

But it was veteran forward Cody Gakpo who lit up the evening game — scoring twice for Liverpool and once in his own net, in a dramatic 3-2 win. ⚽⚽๐Ÿ˜…

๐ŸŒŸ Ngumoha’s Breakout Performance: A Star in the Making?



Rio Ngumoha, an England U17 forward who joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s academy in 2024, is already making waves across Merseyside. Despite his age, he played with maturity and flair that electrified the crowd at Anfield.

Ngumoha opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, winning the ball deep in his own half before bursting forward and curling home a stunning long-range effort. Just three minutes later, he turned provider — nodding a Ben Doak cross into Darwin Nunez’s path for a close-range finish. ⚡๐ŸŽฏ

His combination of pace, confidence, and vision terrorized Bilbao’s defense throughout the first half. Fans began chanting his name, and even Curtis Jones encouraged the Anfield crowd to applaud the youngster as he left the pitch to a standing ovation in the second half. ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ”ด

“The difficulty is managing expectations, but it’s hard to put a lid on it,”
— Former defender Gary Gillespie on LFC TV

Manager Arne Slot also added:

“Rio is showing things every time in pre-season.”

With a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos and an assist versus AC Milan earlier this summer, Ngumoha is building a compelling case for first-team inclusion this season.

⚽ Match Summary – Goals, Highlights & New Faces

๐Ÿ”น Early Game: Liverpool 4–1 Athletic Bilbao

Scorers:

  • Rio Ngumoha

  • Darwin Nunez

  • Ben Doak

  • Harvey Elliott

Ngumoha’s creativity and Nunez’s physicality combined well up top. Ben Doak showed impressive pace and confidence, while Elliott pulled the strings in midfield. Trey Nyoni, an 18-year-old midfielder, filled in at centre-back, exposing Liverpool’s depth concerns in defense.

๐Ÿ”น Late Game: Liverpool 3–2 Athletic Bilbao

Scorers:

  • Mohamed Salah

  • Cody Gakpo (2, incl. 1 own goal)

Florian Wirtz looked sharp in flashes, coming close to scoring on several occasions. Frimpong was lively on the right but showed some defensive frailties — especially when failing to deal with the free-kick that led to Bilbao’s equalizer. ๐Ÿ›ก️๐Ÿ”

๐Ÿ’” Farewell to Diogo Jota & More Changes in the Front Line


Tragedy struck Liverpool this pre-season with the sudden death of Diogo Jota in a car crash, casting a dark shadow over the club’s summer. There were emotional tributes before and during both games. ๐Ÿ•Š️๐Ÿ’”

Additionally, winger Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich, and Darwin Nunez is reportedly a target for Saudi Pro League clubs. If Nunez exits, Liverpool’s attacking depth would be limited to Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo, and possibly Ngumoha — unless the club can sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, whose £110M bid was rejected.

๐Ÿšจ Centre-Back Crisis Looms Ahead of Competitive Fixtures

With Virgil van Dijk out through illness and Joe Gomez injured, Liverpool had to start Wataru Endo, a defensive midfielder, at centre-back next to Ibrahima Konate. Slot noted his disappointment in conceding two set-piece goals:

“To concede from two set-pieces is not what we want, especially against Palace next week. They're strong at set-pieces. Another thing to work on.”

Liverpool's only other options currently are out-of-position players or teenagers, which may force Slot into the market for a reliable central defender. ๐Ÿงฑ❗

๐Ÿ’ฌ What This Means for the 2025–26 Season

With Arne Slot’s first full season in charge under way, the double-header gave a clear signal: this is a new era. Having already won the Premier League last season with minimal signings, Slot now seems ready to mold a squad in his own image, starting with a fluid 4-2-3-1 system and exciting young talent coming through the ranks.

Ngumoha, though raw, is making a strong case to be a breakthrough star this season, especially with attacking spots opening up. His fearless attitude, technical brilliance, and humility off the pitch suggest he’s ready for more. ๐Ÿ’ก๐Ÿ”

“I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent,” Ngumoha said.
“I want to do bigger and better things for me and the club.”