Rio Ngumoha, 16, becomes Liverpool’s youngest EVER player after debut in FA Cup

RIO NGUMOHA has been handed a shock first start for Liverpool in the FA Cup third round against Accrington Stanley.

He will become Liverpool's youngest ever player when he makes his debut against the League Two side.

The 16-year-old prodigy “really believes” he can one day win the Ballon d'Or and is the talk of the Anfield faithful?

SunSport is ready to shed some light on the star, who has the brightest future ahead of him.

How long has Rio Ngumoha been at Liverpool?

The teenager joined the Merseysiders from Chelsea in September in a deal that turned out to be the last of Arne Slot's first transfer window.

Liverpool made the move to sign the star in April after seeing his goal-scoring prowess in Chelsea's Under-17 Premier League Cup final win over Wolves.

But west Londoners' anger over the Reds' takeover of Ngumoha meant he would not be able to play for the Kop club's Under-18s until September.

The attacker impressed Slot so much during his short spell at the club that he was called up to train with the first team in November.

Ngumoha recently traveled with the Reds for their Champions League match against Girona.

But he was ineligible to play in the match as he did not meet the List B criteria for Europe's elite club competition.

The only way he could have played in the match would have been if he had taken a place in the 25-man List A squad.

He was then an unused substitute for the Reds during the Carabao Cup match against Southampton on 19 December.

What position does Rio Ngumoha play?

The right-footed star can play across the front line, but mainly plays on the left wing.

Did Rio Ngumoha represent England?

Ngumoha has been capped at Under-15 and Under-17 level for the Three Lions, finding the back of the net twice for the former side.

What did Rio Ngumoha say?

Ngumoha is not short on confidence and has already set his sights on winning the Ballon d'Or despite not having a single first-team appearance to his name.

During an appearance on Inside the Academy, he said: 'I really believe I can win the Ballon d'Or one day.

“I want to be seen as one of the best players to ever play football and be a legend of football.

“My love for football started when I was four or five.

“I looked at my brother and I wanted to be just like him.

“I went to the academy from a young age and it was a big thing when so many clubs wanted to sign me.

'I learned that you have to be resilient and believe in yourself.

“You can play some bad games, but you have to believe you are the best.

“For me, if I'm in bad shape, I just leave it behind and work hard.”

What did Arne Slot say about Rio Ngumoha?

Before Ngumoha's debut, Slot said: “It's always special when young players make their debut, it puts a smile on my face, he's a young boy.

“Every time he trains with us, he is not afraid to do what he does best.”

What jersey number will Rio Ngumoha wear?

He has been given shirt number 73.

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