Chris Davie
Published March 3, 2026 11:30pm
Updated March 3, 2026 11:30pm
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Steven Gerrard says Rio Ngumoha has shown enough to start ahead of Cody Gakpo (TNT Sports)
Steven Gerrard has urged Arne Slot to play Rio Ngumoha ahead of Cody Gakpo after Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night.
Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves ahead at Molineux before Mohamed Salah pulled Slot’s side level with seven minutes remaining. However, Rob Edwards’ side registered only their third Premier League win this season with Andre’s goal in injury time.
The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the Premier League but they will be overtaken by Chelsea if they win away to Aston Villa on Wednesday.
Gakpo started on Liverpool’s left flank but Gerrard believes 17-year-old Ngumoha, who came on as a substitute against Wolves, should now replace the Dutchman for Friday’s FA Cup tie against Wolves.
‘For 65 minutes Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor, didn’t create enough, didn’t play at the right speed or the right tempo, didn’t have enough quality,’ Gerrard told TNT Sports.
Rio Ngumoha has not started a Premier League game this season (AMA/Getty)
‘He has to start Ngumoha now. He has to start him because he’s coming on and he’s doing more in a short cameo in a short space of time than Gakpo’s doing in 65, 70 minutes.
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‘He deserves to start now. He’s got to start the kid on Friday night [in the FA Cup].’
Gerrard also described Liverpool’s first-half display against Wolves as a ‘complete waste’.
‘The three targets are going to be securing top four again for Champions League for next season and trying to go all the way in the other two competitions,’ Gerrard said.
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‘The first half [against Wolves] was a complete waste from a Liverpool point of view. No urgency, no ball speed change when you got into the final third of the pitch, there wasn’t much quality or penetration.
‘The other thing is they’ve got to stop conceding really poor goals. It was a basic ball up to a target man, a focal point, you’ve got a two versus one that’s got to be dealt with then you’ve got the chance to make a last-ditch tackle that they don’t make.
‘Then the second goal is a poor clearance from the goalkeeper and there’s no reaction. Liverpool have got three players around that could’ve reacted a lot quicker to stop it before it becomes a shot on goal. They’re two really poor goals. If they want to progress in the FA Cup, they have to defend a lot better, they can’t just blame, ‘oh, we didn’t create enough in the final third’, you’ve got to stop conceding goals the other way.
‘They’re much improved lately, they’ve missed a big opportunity tonight.’
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