The Liverpool blockbuster contracts have debuted at Anfield – but it was the 16 -year -old Rio Qumha who was the one who captured the attention.
Liverpool played a strange “double” match with Athletic Bilbao, with the reserve squad met in the afternoon and the main squad confronted 3 hours later.
The U17 British striker, Qumoha, the main kick in the first match – and had a goal and an assist in the first 5 minutes. That match ended with 4-1 with the remaining goals of Darwin Nunez, Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott.
Later, in the match of the main squad, coach Arne Slot launched the summer contracts worth £ 263.5 million. It was midfielder Florian Wirtz, striker Hugo Ekitike, full -back Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez, and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
But Cody Gakpo is probably the most noticeable person – scoring two goals against the opponent and one against the net, helping Liverpool win 3-2. Mohamed Salah scored the score and then shot a penalty.
“In both matches, we have created a lot of opportunities and scored 7 goals. It was very good,” Slot said. But it is difficult to stop talking about ngammaha
Queha, who will turn 17 years old this month, shine in the pre -season period that makes fans wonder if he can become part of the Liverpool one team this season.
Qumoha scored in the second minute when he made a solo phase from the yard, speeding up and launching a beautiful heart from a distance of 20 meters. Only three minutes later, he passed the ball from Doak's cross to Darwin Nunez to finish near the city. Liverpool fans chanted the name of NguMuha. The 16 -year -old leaving the pitch in the applause in the middle of the second half.
“He has a great promotion,” the former Reds defender Gillespie said on LFC TV. “The difficulty is to manage expectations, but it is difficult to control that.” Slot said: “Rio is showing great things each time in the pre -season period.”
The excellent performance of Qumoha took place after a assist against AC Milan and a goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in friendly matches in Asia.
In January, NguMoha became the youngest player kicking the first team Liverpool – at the age of 16 and 135 days – in a 4-0 victory over the Accrington in the FA Cup. But it was the only appearance of NguMoha for the first team and he had never sat on the bench in a Premier League match.
That can completely change this season, especially with a lot of fluctuations on the attack of Liverpool. The tragic death of striker Diogo Jota created many disturbances. Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich and Nunez as the target of Saudi Pro League clubs.
The departure (expected) of Nunez will mean that the attack options of The Reds will only Salah, rookie Ekitike and Gakpo – create opportunities for a young player like Qumuha.
“I didn't try to hurry because I was still young,” NguMuha said last week. “But at the same time, I just want to show what I can do and not too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club.”
Qumoha is actually not a product of the Liverpool Academy, but has only joined Liverpool from the youth team of Chelsea last summer. At that time, the legend of The Blues, John Terry commented: “This boy is and will be a top player.” Terry did not seem to be wrong!
