Rio Ngumoha Shines in Liverpool’s Victory Against Athletic Club
Young talent Rio Ngumoha starred in an impressive goal in Liverpool’s 4-1 victory over Athletic Club in the first of two pre-season friendlies held at Anfield on Monday.
Darwin Núñez, Ben Doak and Harvey Elliott also scored for the home team in the first match of the double header on Monday. Gorka Guruzeta scored the goal for the away team.
The match marked Liverpool’s return to Anfield since the passing of forward Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva. Before the start of the match, former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson and Athletic Club president Jon Uriarte laid floral tributes in homage in front of the Kop.
During the match, the chant dedicated to Jota was heard resonating in the stands and in the 20th minute, applause was given in recognition of Jota’s shirt number, which Liverpool confirmed they would retire last month.Rio Ngumoha could be ready for a standout season at Liverpool.Coach Arne Slot chose not to field many of his starters in the first of Monday’s friendlies. Liverpool started the match on a good foot and took the lead in the score at two minutes, when Ngumoha advanced from his own field and launched a shot that went into the far corner. This was the 16-year-old’s second pre-season goal, following his magnificent goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan last week.
Ngumoha quickly became an assistant, heading the ball for Nunez to finish from close range after five minutes. The visitors came close to reducing the deficit when Andoni Gorosabel hit a shot against the crossbar, but Liverpool extended the lead to 3-0 before halftime, thanks to a low shot from Doak that went under Alez Padilla, the visiting goalkeeper.
Athletic Club threatened again at the start of the second half, with Guruzeta forcing Hungarian youth international Ármin Pécsi to make a good save. Liverpool consolidated their dominance when Núñez assisted Elliott to score the fourth goal just before the hour mark, before Athletic Club reduced the deficit with a header from Guruzeta in the 76th minute.
Both Liverpool and Athletic Club will field much-changed teams in a second friendly at Anfield on Monday night. Captain Virgil van Dijk will not be available due to illness, while defender Conor Bradley will be out with an injury.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker will also not participate, as he left Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the Far East last week due to a personal matter.
