BREAKING: Liverpool vs Athletic Club – Rio Ngumoha Shines in Surprise Pre-Season Role at Anfield

In front of a buzzing Anfield crowd, Liverpool FC kicked off their pre-season double-header against Athletic Club with a mixture of youth, experience, and fresh tactical experiments — and all eyes were on one emerging star: *mRio Ngumoha.

On a day when the Reds played not one, but two friendlies back-to-back at Anfield (5pm and 8pm BST), Jurgen Klopp’s successor, Arne Slot, handed minutes to some of the club’s most exciting young talents, including Ngumoha, who started alongside Darwin Nunez and Ben Doak in attack. The young winger has been turning heads at Kirkby since his arrival, and this match gave fans their first extended look at what he might offer the senior side going forward.

The lineup featured Woodman in goal, with a back four of Stephenson, Nyoni, Robertson, and Tsimikas. In midfield, Slot paired Mac Allister, Curtis Jones, and Harvey Elliott, while Doak, Ngumoha, and Nunez led the line.

With Liverpool facing a packed fixture list this season, these pre-season games are vital not just for fitness, but for discovery. And Ngumoha wasted no time showing why he’s already being whispered about as the next big Anfield breakthrough. His movement, control, and confidence on the ball caused constant problems for the Basque side’s defence, and fans could be heard buzzing every time he touched the ball.

The 17-year-old, who joined from Chelsea in 2023, played with a maturity beyond his years. There were quick link-ups with Jones and Elliott, fearless runs at defenders, and a few bold shots that showed he’s not afraid of the Anfield spotlight. And even though it’s just pre-season, this was his moment — and he grabbed it with both hands.

Elsewhere, it was a positive display from Kostas Tsimikas, who is fighting to prove he deserves more minutes this season. The Greek left-back delivered several dangerous crosses and provided consistent overlapping support for Ngumoha. In midfield, Mac Allister looked calm and composed, guiding the tempo, while Curtis Jones showed his usual determination to carry the ball through midfield traffic.

As the match progressed, substitutes including Koumas, Danns, and Kone-Doherty  got minutes, and the second game of the evening was set to feature more first-team regulars returning from extended summer breaks. It was also confirmed earlier that Virgil van Dijk and Conor Bradley missed the match due to minor issues, adding their names to the club’s early absentee list.

While fans awaited the second match of the evening, focus remained on the standout performers from game one. And without a doubt, Rio Ngumoha stole the show. In a game that didn’t carry points or prizes, what it did carry was opportunity — and Ngumoha delivered.

With games like this, Anfield is witnessing the birth of its next generation. And Rio Ngumoha is making it harder and harder to keep him out of the conversation. Stay tuned for more updates from Liverpool’s pre-season campaign — and don’t be surprised if this young star’s name starts appearing on more and more team sheets.