Latest Arne Slot call has SEALED Liverpool forward's fate

Plenty of Liverpool fans have been pondering the fate of Rio Ngumoha over the last few weeks.

The 17-year-old has come off the bench five times for the Reds this season - for a total of around 42 minutes.

Ngumoha has not played since the November 22 hammering at Anfield by Nottingham Forest - in which Arne Slot gave him the final 12 minutes from the bench.

We were led to believe that Richard Hughes declined to replace Luis Diaz at left wing last summer because the club did not want to stand in the way of Rio’s development.

That argument held water for a few weeks at the outset of the campaign.

Ngumoha gets off to bright start

Following a stunning preseason the England underage international forced his way into the first-team squad and even signed his first professional deal.

A maiden Premier League goal came against Newcastle - followed by another bright cameo against Burnley - and it appeared that Ngumoha was set for a breakthrough season.

But he’s played precious little football for the first team - a factor all the more frustrating for the teenager considering he is still eligible for several underage sides too.

Instead he’s getting no game time and having to contend himself simply with involvement in matchday squads.

Arne Slot's diamond switch is bad news for Rio

Liverpool’s early elimination from the EFL Cup won’t help either meanwhile with Ngumoha denied the chance of further runouts in that competition too.

And right now it looks like Ngumoha’s prospects are not likely to improve any time soon.

Having shipped goals and dropped points in several matches Arne Slot has decided to use a so-called diamond midfield in the last two games.

Against Inter in the Champions League and last weekend in the Premier League against Brighton the Liverpool head coach has beefed up the midfield - with the only width being provided by the full-backs.

That change has coincided with Cody Gakpo’s spell out of the team. And significantly for Ngumoha Slot has opted to change the formation instead of accommodating him in the attack.

Ngumoha needs to play - either at Liverpool or on loan

What a slap in the face that is for the youngster - who looked set for stardom when he swapped Chelsea’s academy for Liverpool in 2024.

His development has stalled - a situation that may not improve so long as Slot sticks with his diamond.

The problem for Ngumoha is Liverpool look a little more solid through the middle with the diamond midfield. And so long as results look good - and the defence is protected - Slot will likely persist with it.

Ngumoha must have been reasonably optimistic of getting some minutes - or even a start - when Gakpo was injured. Instead he has remained on the outside looking in - and will fall even further out of contention if and when the Dutchman returns to the fray.

Liverpool have got a real decision to make over Ngumoha - whether the time might be right to drop him back down to the youth and underage ranks or else consider a January loan deal.

Players get better by playing - and right now Rio Ngumoha is being denied that chance.

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