{"id":355684,"date":"2026-01-06T19:33:11","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:33:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/355684\/"},"modified":"2026-01-06T19:33:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T19:33:11","slug":"shown-it-every-day-in-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/355684\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Shown It Every Day’ in Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rio Ngumoha<\/a> may not have been given the game time many Liverpool supporters had hoped so far this season, but the 17-year-old has wowed team-mates.<\/p>\n

That is according to Curtis Jones<\/a>, who told JD Sports<\/a> that the young winger is the most skilful player in the Liverpool squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll probably say Rio, you know,\u201d he said when asked to pick one of his team-mates.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see him every day in training. I remember the first day when he came in I was like \u2018woah\u2019. He\u2019s just shown it every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LONDON,<\/p>\n

It can certainly be argued that Ngumoha has not been used as many expected following his outstanding run of form throughout pre-season.<\/p>\n

Liverpool\u2019s decision not to sign a replacement for Luis Diaz<\/a> upon his move to Bayern Munich<\/a> came with a desire not to block the youngster\u2019s immediate pathway to the first team.<\/p>\n

Liverpool minutes tracker: 2025\/26 first-team stats for players aged 19 & under<\/p>\n

Name
\nPosition
\nAge
\nTotal Minutes<\/p>\n

Rio Ngumoha
\nLeft Winger
\n17
\n225\u2032<\/p>\n

Trey Nyoni
\nCentral Midfield
\n18
\n182\u2032<\/p>\n

Giovanni Leoni
\nCentre-Back
\n19
\n81\u2032<\/p>\n

Kieran Morrison
\nRight Winger
\n19
\n67\u2032<\/p>\n

Wellity Lucky
\nCentre-Back
\n19
\n23\u2032<\/p>\n

Jayden Danns
\nCentre-Forward
\n19
\n15\u2032<\/p>\n

Amara Nallo
\nCentre-Back
\n19
\n12\u2032<\/p>\n

Trent Kone-Doherty
\nLeft Winger
\n19
\n4\u2032<\/p>\n

Pathway update: Rio Ngumoha<\/a> (17) has established himself as the standout breakout of the season with 228 minutes, while 18-year-old Trey Nyoni<\/a> has firmly cemented his place in the senior midfield rotation. Jayden Danns<\/a> (16\u2032) and Giovanni Leoni<\/a> (81\u2032) remain vital depth options as they continue their respective injury recoveries.<\/p>\n

\n * Data via Transfermarkt. Includes all senior first-team appearances.\n <\/p>\n

That came with the likes of Real Madrid<\/a>\u2018s Rodrygo, Paris Saint-Germain\u2019s Bradley Barcola and Lyon\u2019s Malick Fofana all linked with moves to Anfield.<\/p>\n

Ngumoha has so far made nine appearances this season, with two starts \u2013 both in the Carabao Cup<\/a> \u2013 and one goal, clocking just 225 minutes on the pitch in total.<\/p>\n

Trey Nyoni<\/a>, the 18-year-old midfielder, is the only other regular senior outfielder with fewer minutes for Liverpool so far this season (182).<\/p>\n

Slot has instead placed a heavier emphasis on Cody Gakpo<\/a> as first choice on the left wing while Florian Wirtz<\/a> has been deployed there in the Dutchman\u2019s recent absence.<\/p>\n

\"LIVERPOOL,<\/p>\n

But unlike Nyoni, who has also played the full 90 minutes on four occasions for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and once for the U21s in the league, Ngumoha has only played one behind-closed-doors friendly at academy level this season.<\/p>\n

That could present the risk of his progress stagnating without regular game time, with little chance of a mid-season loan following injury to Alexander Isak<\/a> and Mohamed Salah<\/a>\u2018s departure to the Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the end of last year, Slot outlined his belief<\/a> that Ngumoha was not being underused, while explaining why he was not featuring consistently.<\/p>\n

Who are the youngest Premier League<\/a> players with the most senior minutes in the 2025\/26 season?<\/p>\n

Rank
\nPlayer
\nClub
\nAge
\nSenior Minutes<\/p>\n

1
\nRio Ngumoha
\nLiverpool
\n17
\n225\u2032<\/p>\n

2
\nMax Dowman
\nArsenal
\n16
\n143\u2032<\/p>\n

3
\nJoel Drakes-Thomas
\nCrystal Palace
\n16
\n97\u2032<\/p>\n

4
\nBradley Burrowes
\nAston Villa
\n17
\n16\u2032<\/p>\n

5
\nBendito Mantato
\nMan United
\n17
\n15\u2032<\/p>\n

\n * All first-team club competitions. Data accurate as of Jan 6, 2026.\n <\/p>\n

\u201cI think he has the most minutes of all 17-year-olds in the Premier League<\/a>. So that tells you how much playing time he gets, how special that already is for a 17-year-old,\u201d Slot said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat also tells you something about his quality, because it\u2019s not completely normal for a 17-year-old already to have as much playing time as he had.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut it also tells you something about the availability in those areas\u2026if he would be a player in a different position he would probably have even more chance to come in.\u201d<\/p>\n

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