Florian Wirtz has had a mixed debut season at Liverpool, and Nigel Reo-Coker thinks another player would offer more than the German.
After failing to score and assist in the first few months of the Premier League campaign, Wirtz was questioned.
The German went on something of a run, scoring five and assisting four in the league, but his form has dipped again, and Reo-Coker thinks Rio Ngumoha would offer more than the £116m man.
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Rio Ngumoha a better option than Florian Wirtz
Speaking on the BBC Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, the ex-Premier League player questioned why Ngumoha is not being used amid Liverpool’s lack of creativity this season.
He said: “Please can someone tell me why Arne Slot isn’t playing the young kid Rio Ngumoha?
“I’m still trying to work out why they aren’t playing him, especially when you look at their current run of form and their lack of creativity. He has that fearless factor about him, so why don’t they just start him in games like the one against Manchester United?
“There should be no problem if his playing style hasn’t matured fully, because you’ve only got one of him in a team of 11 players. That is fine.
“I’m certain that you would probably get more production off him than you would get off Florian Wirtz at the moment, which is another aspect of my argument.”
Ngumoha has made 16 Premier League appearances so far this season, but most of those outings have come off the bench.
In fact, he has notched just 321 minutes of action in the top-flight, starting just two league games.
It comes despite Cody Gakpo’s form being up and down, Wirtz struggling, and Mohamed Salah currently being sidelined.
Arne Slot’s prediction for Florian Wirtz
However, the teenager is not expected to get in ahead of the German, with Slot backing the summer addition to improve.
Speaking ahead of Manchester United, the Liverpool manager had high hopes for Wirtz and his ability to perform in big games.
He said: “I don’t only hope that, I am 100% sure he will turn up [against top six teams]. We play three of those now so there are chances but it so clear the development in 10 months, it is clear and obvious. 93 mins vs Crystal Palace, wins a throw-in and then hits it in the top corner.
“I was not convinced he could do that 8 months ago. His improvement, he was already an elite player, has been for me obvious. It will only continue. He is 23 on Sunday. That makes sense, every player is at his best at 25/26, he can only become better. That is the beauty of the signings we made.”
It did not happen against the Red Devils, but perhaps it will be different with meetings against Chelsea and Aston Villa coming up.
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