Arne Slott’s inclusion of Rio Ngumoha in Liverpool’s starting XI for their FA Cup third round clash with Accrington Stanley on Saturday lunchtime was a historic decision.
At the age of 16 years and 135 days, Ngumoha got the chance to become the youngest player ever to feature for Liverpool in FA Cup. Considering that England’s historic football giants have been competing in the world’s oldest football competition since its inception in 1892, Ngumoha’s feat is incredible.
The nimble-footed striker is not the youngest player ever to feature in a competitive game for the Reds – that honor goes to Jerome Sinclair, who made just six of the last nine minutes in a League Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion in 2012. days after turning 16
Sinclair went on to make just four more appearances for Liverpoolsenior team and retired from professional football before his 25th birthday.
Rio makes his debut for the Reds 💫🔴 pic.twitter.com/FilXn5rfUw
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 11, 2025
Ngumoha is expected to enjoy a far more impressive career. Once a product of Chelsea’s esteemed academy system, Liverpool reportedly had to stop their wage structure to lure the talented teenager to Merseyside in September.
The English young international has already made five appearances in the prestigious UEFA Youth League, collecting two assists in the youth iteration Champions League which is usually home to 18-year-olds.
Instead of looking at Sinclair’s worrying precedent, Ngumoha might take solace in the identity of Liverpool’s third-youngest ever player – his team-mate, Harvey Elliott. Although the mischievous forward hasn’t quite taken off as many expected – largely due to injury problems – the 21-year-old still has a bright future ahead of him. Although, it might not be with Liverpool.
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