\n<\/p>\n
Ngumoha, who turns 17 later this month, shone again in pre-season to get fans wondering if he could be part of the first team this year.<\/p>\n
The second youngest Liverpool player in a competitive game ever started this friendly on the left wing – and he caught the eye as he has done all summer.<\/p>\n
The teenager scored in just the second minute as he ran onto a loose ball in his own half before racing forward and curling a fine effort in from 20 yards out.<\/p>\n
Just three minutes later he nodded a Doak cross down for Darwin Nunez to convert from close range.<\/p>\n
Liverpool fans were singing his name as Curtis Jones urged them to show their appreciation.<\/p>\n
And he caused the La Liga side all kinds of problems with his dribbling and trickery.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old left to a standing ovation midway through the second half.<\/p>\n
“He is such an excellent prospect,” said ex-Reds defender Gary Gillespie on LFC TV.<\/p>\n
“The difficult is managing expectations but it’s hard to put a lid on it.”<\/p>\n
Ngumoha’s performance came on the back of an assist against AC Milan and goal against Yokohama F. Marinos in Asian friendlies.<\/p>\n
He looks a fine talent, if raw, and will be hoping more first-team competitive games are on the way.<\/p>\n
In January, Ngumoha became the youngest player to start a match for Liverpool – aged 16 years and 135 days old – in the 4-0 win over Accrington in the FA Cup.<\/p>\n
But that was his only first-team appearance and he never made the bench for a Premier League game.<\/p>\n
That could well change this season, especially with so many changes in the Liverpool front line.<\/p>\n
The sad death of centre forward Diogo Jota in a car crash has been the main focus of Liverpool’s pre-season. There were tributes to him<\/a> before and during the game at Anfield.<\/p>\n Winger Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich and Nunez is a target for Saudi Pro League clubs.<\/a><\/p>\n An exit for Nunez would mean the Reds’ only really strong frontline options would be Salah, new signing Ekitike and Gakpo – giving a chance for somebody like Ngumoha to break through.<\/p>\n That is unless they managed to sign Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. An initial bid of \u00a3110m has been rejected.<\/a><\/p>\n “I’m not trying to rush because I’m still only young,” said Ngumoha last week.<\/p>\n “But at the same time, I just want to show the manager what I can do and not get too complacent. I just want to do bigger and better things for me and the club.”<\/p>\n Ngumoha is not actually a Liverpool academy product, having only joined Liverpool from Chelsea’s youth set-up last summer.<\/p>\n At the time Blues legend John Terry wrote “this boy is and will be a top player”.<\/p>\n He’s not looking wrong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n