Never mind Wirtz, Ngumoha is here!

Liverpool returned to Anfield, and the highlight of their preseason preparations came in the form of a “double-header” against Athletic Bilbao. The first featured mainly reserve players from both sides, followed by the first-team squads later in the evening. The occasion was organized as part of the "Forever 20" program — a tribute to the tragically deceased Diogo Jota and his brother Andre, who died in a car accident last month. In the first match, Liverpool won 4–1 continuing their trend of high-scoring games this preseason. The star of the match was wonderkid Rio Ngumoha.

While fans are eagerly awaiting dazzling moves from big-money signings like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, the crowd at Anfield had plenty to cheer about thanks to the sparkling display of the 16-year-old, whose stunning goal even sparked taunts directed at Chelsea. In just the 2nd minute, the London-born youngster picked up the ball at midfield, sprinted forward, and finished with a superb strike from the edge of the box into the far corner past a helpless Alex Padilla. It was his third goal of the preseason. Ngumoha rewarded himself in style after the beautiful goal he scored in Japan against Yokohama Marinos. Less than three minutes later, he was once again central to the action that led to Liverpool doubling their lead.

From the left wing, he threaded a first-time pass to fellow youngster Ben Doak, who then played in Darwin Nunez — the forgotten striker — and the Uruguayan finished clinically. Nunez was joined in the lineup by Alexis Mac Allister, Kostas Tsimikas, Andy Robertson, Harvey Elliott, and Curtis Jones, all featuring for the reserve team in this outing. Before Liverpool’s third goal, Ngumoha nearly scored another screamer. Doak again set him up, and only a desperate save from Padilla denied him from distance. However, the Bilbao keeper soon made an error, turning a Doak strike into an own goal.

The Nigerian-rooted winger hasn’t just shown potential — he’s proven he already has the quality to compete for minutes in the senior squad. Reds fans already remember him as the club’s second-youngest debutant, having played against Accrington in the FA Cup at 16 years and 135 days in a 4–0 win. That was his only senior appearance so far, and he hasn’t even made the bench in a Premier League game — but that may well change this season. It is said that as a consequence of ‘stealing’ him from the Bluese, Chelsea have now banned scouts from Liverpool, as well as Manchester United, from attending their academy matches.