Rio Ngumoha shows Liverpool quality he can bring in new role under Andoni Iraola
Seventeen-year-old Liverpool prospect Rio Ngumoha impressed during a preseason match against Wrexham, scoring the winning goal. The young winger demonstrated confidence and tactical versatility while playing in a new role.
Why it matters
Ngumoha's performance highlights the development of young talent within a major football club during the preseason transition period.
-Credit:Getty Images (Getty Images) Jeremy Goldstein Thu, 30 July 2026 at 4:23 am UTC · 3 min read
This preseason, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, for perhaps the first time as a senior player, wasn’t the youngest player on the pitch for Liverpool (that honor belonged to Josh Abe, who, yes, was born in 2010).
But Ngumoha carries himself like anything but a green teenager in a squad full of pricey regulars, particularly with many familiar faces still away on World Cup duty.
Ngumoha admitted he was rusty following Liverpool’s 1-0 preseason victory over Wrexham at Yankee Stadium in New York, a match in which he scored the only goal and started on the right wing, his unpreferred side.... perhaps accommodating for the pending arrival of left-winger Bradley Barcola for a record fee .
• Rio Ngumoha sends message to Andoni Iraola after he used him for Bradley Barcola transfer 'hint'
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