After the boos had subsided a little, Arne Slot allowed himself a rueful chuckle on the Anfield sideline.
Having made the decision to take Rio Ngumoha off after another sparkling, 65-minute performance, the Liverpool head coach knew the dissent from the stands was coming.
“I knew the moment his number went up that that would have been the reaction,” Slot said after the game, while confirming that Ngumoha had requested to be taken off following some cramping issues.
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That the Dutchman went ahead and did it anyway shows just how committed he has been – and continues to be – about protecting his 17-year-old wonderkid.
Though everything appears to be black and white for the Anfield boo-boys, many of whom have been desperate to see Ngumoha play more, Slot has understood that the teenager has needed building up and protecting, even if that means making himself look like the villain.
Slot has protected Ngumoha over and over again
It has been hard to escape the clamour for Ngumoha to get more minutes at Liverpool this season. With results going badly, and his wide men struggling to make an impact, Slot has faced increasing pressure to chuck the youngster in since the autumn.
That he has resisted has not been because he does not rate him, but rather the opposite. Slot has said many times what a big future he envisages for Ngumoha at Liverpool, and it is precisely because of that which he has managed him so carefully.
Slot has regularly referenced the overplaying of young players such as Stefan Bajcetic – who has missed the full season – as reason not to hand Ngumoha too much, too early.
Instead, he has been built up slowly, gradually being given more responsibility and playing longer during matches.
When he has needed to be taken out of the firing line, whatever the noise from outside, Slot has recognised that and kept him back. Saturday was just another example of that.
Ngumoha was easily Liverpool’s most dangerous player against Chelsea, and it would have helped the manager to keep him on. But Slot looked beyond that and to what was best for the player, even if it meant him falling further in the eyes of supporters.
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Ngumoha will get more minutes next season
Slot has been at pains to mention that no 17-year-olds have played more in Europe’s top five leagues than Ngumoha this season.
Given the impact he has had on Liverpool’s campaign, he clearly knows what a talent the former Chelsea man is.
Building on the solid platform that this season has given him, Ngumoha will now be well placed to take greater advantage of that in 2026/27.
He is unlikely to become a regular starter overnight – and nor should he – but while he headed into this season as a bonus, wildcard player, he will be a bona fide member of the Liverpool squad next term.
Many will want to see his progress rewarded with a regular starting spot, but Ngumoha will only turn 18 at the end of August. Slot knows the importance of continuing to ease him in, and though fans may not agree, that is the perfect way to manage such an explosive, prodigious talent.
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