JAKARTA - Liverpool manager Arne Slot gave special praise to Rio Ngumoha after the young player impressed in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, March 7, 2026, early in the morning WIB.
The 17-year-old played 69 minutes in the FA Cup fifth-round tie at Molineux Stadium, forcing Sam Johnstone into early and sustained saves and causing problems for Wolves' defence.
Although he did not score, the attacker's performance will only strengthen the call for him to be given more regular playing time, especially as Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah are struggling in the best form of the season.
Ngumoha has only made his fourth appearance as a starter and his 18th appearance this season in all competitions.
"Special because if you are 17 years old. You can have an impact on two English League teams facing each other, then it shows how good he is as a player."
"But it's up to him to show this at all times. This should give him a lot of confidence to show it in away games," Arne Slot said about Ngumoha's performance as reported by BBC Sport.
Second-half goals from Andy Robertson, Salah, and Curtis Jones secured victory for Liverpool in the West Midlands before Hwang Hee-Chan scored Wolves' consolation goal in the final minutes.
This is a much-needed boost for Arne Slot's team, who will travel to Istanbul to face Galatasaray in the first leg of the Champions League 16th round on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
"We created more chances than in the last game. That's the reason we could win today."
"Every three days I have a different feeling. Three days ago my feelings were completely different from now. It's nice to be in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. In three or four days, another big game in Istanbul," said Arne Slot.
The only other goal defender Robertson this season came in September 2025 when Liverpool beat Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. His key role in the FA Cup victory was welcomed after Wolves humiliated Liverpool 2-1 in the Premier League three days earlier.
"(It's) a little better. We know we let ourselves down on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), it's up to us to fix it. The FA Cup is life or death," Robertson told BBC Sport.
Liverpool are the first team to secure their place in the FA Cup quarter-finals, which will take place in the first weekend of April 2026. The other seven competitors will be determined in matches to be held in the next few days.
"We try to fight on all fronts. We are still in two cup tournaments. If we play like tonight, then no one wants to play against us."
"We have to start showing that consistency. It's one step forward and two steps back," Robertson said.
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