Rio Ngumoha proves Arne Slot WRONG during stunning moment | OneFootball

RIO. RIO. RIO. Is a chant we just keep hearing at Anfield. It's a chant that also rang out at St James' Park and may have even got its own rendition at Turf Moor had things gone differently.

The fact of the matter is that Rio Ngumoha has quietly emerged as Liverpool's secret weapon. His goal against Newcastle put his name in the history books but his performance in that game, the tiny flickers he showed before the goal were just as impressive.

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Not to mention everything that we had seen of him in pre-season. Ngumoha completed the most dribbles for the first team during pre-season and made five goal contributions in five games.

It's hard to believe we are talking about a player who is barely 17-years-old. A player who has just finished his GCSEs.

Ngumoha shouldn't be a part of a first team competing for the league title - yet he's so good, Arne Slot simply has no other choice.

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And even though he's played less than 20 minutes of action so far, he's more than played his part in Liverpool's success and 100% record in the Premier League.

Obviously, the goal against Newcastle is what everyone will remember but it could so easily have been an assist against Turf Moor.

Slot waited and waited to pull the trigger on bringing Ngumoha on, even though Liverpool needed someone of his trickery to conjure a magical moment.

In the end, it was the 87th minute when Ngumoha finally entered the pitch. Just six minutes later, Liverpool had their best chance of the game, and who created it?

Ngumoha of course. The 17-year-old made a stunning entrance into the Burnley penalty area, drawing out their defenders and then just as he drew them out, he spotted Jeremie Frimpong free in the box.

Ngumoha put in the perfect ball and the Dutchman just couldn't bury it in what was a stunning moment. Ultimately, the chance turned into a corner and from the corner Liverpool put in a cross that saw the Reds win the deciding penalty.

If Ngumoha doesn't create that stunning chance for Frimpong, the chances are we might not be talking about a Liverpool win but a draw.

His brief but electrifying cameo put Burnley on the back foot. It meant they couldn't relax and in the end it was Ngumoha's influence that made sure Liverpool kept the ball in the opposition's final third and put even more pressure on their opponent.

That stunning moment proved Slot wrong. Imagine if Slot had made that change earlier, Liverpool might not have had to wait until the 95th minute to get the win over the line.

In the long-run, Ngumoha definitely deserves more time on the pitch. He's ready.