Can Ngumoha's Impact Be the Deciding Factor in 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 brought new life to their dwindling season. The question remains whether this teenage sensation can inspire a remarkable Anfield comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. With coach Arne Slot's future potentially hanging in the balance, Ngumoha's recent goal and performance against Fulham have given him a selection headache. Ngumoha, now Liverpool's youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield, was instrumental in a display that has rekindled hope for a Champions League spot next season. The team solidified their grip on fifth place, which could be enough to secure a spot in next season's competition. Despite his stellar showing in only his second Premier League start, Jamie Redknapp believes Ngumoha might be more effective as a 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 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 insights into the young player's rise. 'The potential was so obvious. 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 from Chelsea to Liverpool, where he joined at 16, has not been easy, but he has now 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.'