Arne Slot lets two players down | OneFootball

Ngumoha and Jones impressive v Wolves

Ngumoha, 17, had arguably his most impactful Liverpool performance to date - winning the player of the match award and leaving fand begging for more.

The England under-19 international put his recent lack of game time behind him to register a top display - full of inventive one-v-one dribbling and take-ons.

It was the kind of outing which hinted at his capability to be a first-team player on a more regular basis.

Jones meanwhile put in as close to a perfect performance you can get.

The 25-year-old didn’t misplace a single pass across the game - scoring one and assisting another for good measure. Amid considerable uncertainty around his contract future this was a reminder to Arne Slot that he can reach the levels required.

Jones on his day is as good a progressive passer as you can find anywhere in Europe - with the Champions League in particular being his favoured domain this season.

Surely then - with Galatasaray on the horizon in the CL round of 16 - Ngumoha and Jones would be rewarded for taking their opportunities?

Ngumoha and Jones get ZERO minutes v Galatasaray

No chance.

Arne Slot opted for Florian Wirtz in an inside-left role - not quite a winger, not quite a No10. He sparkled there between the lines for Bayer Leverkusen but once again it just didn’t happen for him against Gala.

Elsewhere Slot shuffled his pack to release Dominik Szoboszlai from the right-back role he occupied against Wolves in the cup. And the Hungarian’s return to midfield had an impact for Jones - who dropped out of the lineup once again.

In the event none of Liverpool’s midfielders impressed - with Ryan Gravenberch booked and Alexis Mac Allister anonymous once again.

And when it came time to make changes - neither Ngumoha nor Jones were summoned. Instead a heavily strapped-up Cody Gakpo came off the bench to replace Wirtz on the left and the midfield incredibly stayed intact throughout.

Slot was not minded to make a change at all in that area - despite his side’s inability to get at the Gala backline. Jones’ probing passing - and patience in possession - could have been key to unlocking the Istanbul giants.

But no. Nothing. Zero minutes for the star duo last time out.

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Why did Ngumoha and Jones sit on the bench?

And this has got to raise questions for Slot.

He brought two players into the lineup for the Wolves game - essentially asking them to go and impress; to give him a selection dilemma.

It is hard to see how they could have done it any better - potentially being the two best players on the pitch. And yet they got nothing against Galatarasay in terms of a reward for their displays.

Is the head coach so set in his ways that no amount of evidence will change his mind?

It might have been easy to overlook in the immediate aftermath of the result at RAMS Park - there were so many other issues to address.

But Ngumoha and Jones not getting on the pitch - after their best performances of the season - was again poor management. They deserved their chance and could have helped improve a poor display. Let’s hope Slot can correct the error of his ways.