Arne Slot says Rio Ngumoha is staking a strong claim for a first Premier League start ahead of Sunday’s clash with struggling Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
The 17-year-old shone in last week’s 3-1 FA Cup victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers before being an unused substitute in Tuesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat by Galatasaray.
Slot has been keen not to overburden the winger, who has made 11 league appearances off the bench so far this season, but it is becoming harder to leave him out given the injection of pace and creativity he provides.
“We have treated him carefully this season,” Slot said at a news conference on Friday. “He cannot have too many days in a row on the pitch because of (potential) stress fractures. Players of this age can have them and have had them at this club.
“Jayden Danns is one of the examples of that but Rio is a player who could start for us. I said a month ago he would get more playing time and we’ve all seen him coming in for longer spells and starting against Wolves (in the FA Cup).
“He is definitely an option to start in one of the upcoming three games because for the fifth time this season we have to play three times in seven days with an early kick-off at Brighton next Saturday. We’ve been very ‘lucky’ with that schedule this season.”
Slot expects to have Alisson back in goal for the visit of Spurs. Giorgi Mamardashvili deputised against Galatasaray after the Brazilian keeper picked up a minor injury in training on Monday.
“Ali has been with the physios until now. Let’s see if he can join the team session today,” Slot said. “It’s something I expect but not 100 per cent sure yet. I am hopeful (he will be available).
“He felt something in one of his muscles when he passed the ball. When we checked it, it was so minor we don’t think it needs to take long but as always games come so fast. He had to miss Galatasaray.
“Hopefully, he’s ready and available for Sunday. If not I’m expecting him to definitely be back for the second leg against Galatasaray.”
Federico Chiesa is also set to return to the squad after missing the trip to Istanbul due to illness.
Meanwhile, Slot insists it would be wrong to make sweeping judgements about the current strength of the Premier League after the English clubs’ struggles in the last 16 of the Champions League this week.
Four of the six clubs were beaten — three of them by three-goal margins — with Arsenal and Newcastle United managing draws.
“Jumping to a conclusion after one game day, which is such a small sample size, is never the smartest thing to do. Maybe after next week we will have a different conclusion,” he added.
“In general, I don’t think it’s helpful for English clubs not to have a winter break. But I’m not saying those games were lost this week because there wasn’t a break. When you’re in the last 16 of Europe, you’re facing very good teams.
“Five of the six English teams in the Champions League played away from home. It’s usually a disadvantage to play away.
“To say the Premier League level is not as high as we expected it to be isn’t the right conclusion to make at this moment. Let’s judge us all after next week.”