Against Fulham, Ngumoha was Liverpool’s biggest threat, scoring a superb curling opener with skill and precision after 36 minutes, then playing a part four minutes later when Mohamed Salah showed some of the old magic remains with a finish of similar accuracy and technique to seal a win that keeps Slot’s side in the Champions League places.
He was a constant threat on Liverpool’s left-flank, receiving a deserved standing ovation when he was substituted after 69 minutes.
Was it to preserve energies for Tuesday? Or was it simply because Slot felt Ngumoha had done enough?
Former Liverpool midfield man Jamie Redknapp told Sky Sports: “Rio gives you a great option from the bench for the PSG game, but who knows?
“If they did start him I wouldn’t be surprised, but I think right now if I’m trying to pick Liverpool’s best team for a game, I like the midfield they ended the game with.
“It was Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, which is the midfield which pretty much won Liverpool the league last year, and I also think it might be a game where Hugo Ekitike starts as the nine, and you might need Florian Wirtz on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right.
“That feels like it has a nice shape to it. With Alexander Isak to come off the bench if you need him, then also Rio to give you a bit of ‘X-Factor’.”
The odds are probably against Ngumoha starting, but most observers (including this one) would suggest he is contributing more than the subdued Gakpo.
Only Wayne Rooney, at 17 years and 51 days, and Cesc Fabregas, at 17 years and 113 days, have started a Premier League game and scored at a younger age than Liverpool’s Ngumoha, at 17 years and 225 days.
He is a guaranteed star of the future. Will Slot be bold enough to make him a star of Liverpool’s present by playing him against PSG?