REVEALED: Rio Ngumoha's INCREDIBLE stats since joining Liverpool
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha has been quietly impressive since joining the Reds and his numbers reflect that as well.
When the teenage winger was confirmed to have joined the club, the Reds knew they were getting a special player.
Even after his departure from Chelsea, club legends like John Terry tipped him to go far in the game.
However, while all the hype was enough to get fans excited, it's always important to judge a player by his actions and what they do on the pitch, rather than what others say about him.
Whether that is negative or not, and especially when we are talking about a young player.
Fortunately, in Ngumoha's case everything we have witnessed up until this point has very much justified the hype.
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Ngumoha's incredibly impressive numbers in the UEFA Youth League
In just five appearances and two starts for Liverpool at academy level, Ngumoha has already registered an assist and came very close to scoring rattling the crossbar.
From the snippets we have seen of him so far everything has been incredible impressive. Ngumoha loves to have the ball at his feet and he loves to drive at opponents.
So it should come as no surprise that in the UEFA Youth League, he ranks among the top three players who have played at least 100 minutes and average the highest volume of dribblers per 90.
Ngumoha's average stands at 12.74 dribbles per 90 according to Wyscout. Only AC Milan's Mattia Liberali (12.95 per 90) and Manchester City's Ryan McAidoo (23.94 per 90) average more dribbles.
Football - UEFA Champions League - League Phase - AC Milan v Liverpool FC - MD-1 MILAN, ITALY - Monday, September 16, 2024: Liverpool s Rio Ngumoha during a press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz at the Stadio San Siro ahead of the UEFA Champions League matchday 1 game between AC Milan and Liverpool FC. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda MILAN Stadio San Siro LOMBARDY ITALY PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2024-09-17-AC_Milan_U19_Liverpool_U19-22
However, it's one thing averaging a high volume of dribbles. What is impressive is that among players who average at least 12 dribbles per 90, Ngumoha is the most effective when it comes to dribble completion.
He has so far won 60% of his attempted dribbles, far higher than Liberali (36.84%) and McAidoo (51.72%).
Obviously, these are only early days and the sample size is small but you have to give credit where its due, Ngumoha has done very well so far. He's also made the most progressive runs (11) in the competition and has looked really lively every time he has made an appearace.
His end product needs to improve with 0.28xG being quite low from 230 minutes played so far. But that is natural for a young attacker. The other aspects of his game are very exciting and the rest Arne Slot can work on in the future to enhance, just as he has done with Luis Diaz this season.
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