Can Ngumoha's X Factor Inspire Liverpool's Comeback Against PSG?

Liverpool's £440m summer investment has yet to yield the desired results, but a 17-year-old academy product has breathed new life into their dwindling season. Now, the question on everyone's mind is whether Ngumoha's emergence can be the catalyst for a remarkable Champions League comeback against Paris Saint-Germain. With Arne Slot's Anfield future hanging in the balance, Ngumoha's impressive display against Fulham has given the Dutch coach a selection headache. The teenager, who became Liverpool's youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield, was instrumental in a performance that has rekindled hope in their bid to secure a Champions League spot for next season. Liverpool's grip on fifth place has tightened, which could be enough to guarantee a spot in next season's competition. However, despite his stellar showing in only his second Premier League start, Jamie Redknapp believes Ngumoha might be better utilized as an impact substitute against PSG. 'If Slot did start him, I wouldn't be surprised,' Redknapp said. 'I just think right now, when I'm trying to pick Liverpool's best team for a huge game, I like the midfield he ended up with against Fulham, with Mac Allister, Gravenberch, and Szoboszlai. I think that's a midfield that's got a bit of everything. That was the midfield that pretty much won the league last year for Liverpool.' Redknapp suggested that if Hugo Ekitike starts at No 9, Florian Wirtz might be needed on the left-hand side, with Mohamed Salah on the right. 'That feels like it has a nice shape to it. Obviously reminiscent of last year. You've got Alexander Isak to come off the bench if you need him, and then you've got Rio to come off the bench and give you a bit of X factor. If you can stay in the game, you've not got to win the game in the first 20 minutes, but you can certainly lose it. It might be one where you get those two players on towards the end. That might just be able to nick you a goal, lift the crowd.' Redknapp, who has known Ngumoha since he was seven, also shared insight into the youngster's rise to prominence. 'The potential was so obvious,' Redknapp revealed. 'Everybody could see it. He just had sort of a natural X factor. He was at Chelsea at the same time as my youngest son, and they used to train together in the same group. It was quite staggering to see. His brother, who played a big part in his career, certainly his development. He used to do a lot of one-on-one coaching with him, and he came over to my house a few times, and I just watched how he worked with Rio. I've never seen a kid with such fast feet, but it was repetition after repetition.' Ngumoha's journey to the Liverpool first team has been nothing short of remarkable. He left Chelsea at 16 to join the Merseyside club and has since forced his way into the first-team squad. 'This year, he sort of forced his way in with the first team squad. And now you can see it, the goal against Newcastle, the goal against Fulham, he's thriving. He's enjoying it, and it is a great environment. It's a tough environment. I did it myself as a 17-year-old when I signed for Liverpool, and I'm thankful for every day that I did it. He's doing extremely well. He's got to keep his head on his shoulders and keep working hard. He's got great experienced players like Andy Robertson around him. So I'm delighted. He's a really good young man, and it's amazing to see him.'