Owen Urges Caution with Young Ngumoha…
Liverpool’s 16-year-old sensation, Rio Ngumoha, dazzled in pre-season like a magician with a new hat trick, but Michael Owen thinks the young starlet should avoid being flung straight into the Premier League cauldron. Arne Slot chose to keep Ngumoha on the bench in their match against Crystal Palace as if he were a precious gem that shouldn’t lose its sparkle too soon. Owen, who once scored at Liverpool at the tender age of 17, is worried Ngumoha might get lost in a sea of talent like a singular rubber duck in an ocean of giant inflatable swans.
With big names like Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah around, Ngumoha’s path to stardom is more like navigating a room full of Lego bricks barefoot—it’s possible but requires careful steps. Michael Owen believes the club should give him a chance to grow through cups and controlled game time, avoiding burning him out like a marshmallow too close to a campfire. As Liverpool tinkers with its roster, they’ve added Hugo Ekitike and potentially Alexander Isak to the mix, creating a talent pool deeper than a philosopher’s thoughts on water. Ngumoha’s time will come, says Owen; it’s all about walking that tightrope between pressure and progression.
