Liverpool’s Rio Ngumoha ignored Andy Robertson’s ‘screams’ and made Premier League history at Anfield - ‘He was unbelievable’

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Rio Ngumoha became Liverpool's youngest Premier League goalscorer at Anfield in their Premier League win over Fulham. The 17-year-old praised under-pressure Arne Slot ahead of The Reds' must-win UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain, while departing icon Andy Robertson applauded Ngumoha's confidence and his dedication to improving.

Slot 'not surprised' by Ngumoha's 'special quality' after Liverpool beat Fulham

Video credit: SNTV

Rio Ngumoha set more records in Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Fulham, including becoming the youngest player to score in the Premier League at Anfield.

Starting only his second top-flight game for The Reds, Ngumoha controlled a pass on the left of the penalty area and drove goalwards.

He twisted Fulham full-back Timothy Castagne this way and that before eventually the Belgian allowed a shooting window, and the teenager took full advantage, curling his shot into the bottom corner.

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It was a goal reminiscent of vintage Mohamed Salah - who doubled Liverpool’s lead four minutes later - and showcased everything that has Liverpool fans so excited about Ngumoha, who was already the club's youngest scorer.

The England Under-19 international still had plenty to do, even after using his electric movement on the ball to shake Castagne loose. He expertly bent his shot around Joachim Andersen, and the despairing dive of Bernd Leno, to open the scoring.

However, Andy Robertson was less convinced by Ngumoha's celebration.

Youngest Premier League goalscorers at Anfield

Date	Team	Player	Opponent	Age	Venue
11-04-2026	Liverpool	Rio Ngumoha	Fulham	17y 225d	Anfield
20-10-2012	Liverpool	Raheem Sterling	Reading	17y 317d	Anfield
08-11-1997	Liverpool	Michael Owen	Tottenham	17y 329d	Anfield
14-11-1998	Leeds	Alan Smith	Liverpool	18y 017d	Anfield
03-04-1999	Everton	Francis Jeffers	Liverpool	18y 068d	Anfield

Data: Opta

"We will be having words about that [the celebration] in the changing room!” Robertson told Sky Sports in his first game after announcing his Anfield exit in the summer.

"No, he was unbelievable, it just shows you sometimes - do not listen to the experienced players. I am screaming at him to say that I am coming on the overlap, and he just goes cuts inside. It was a great finish from him, great performance by him, he just keeps learning and listening, he is such a good kid.

"Him and Trey [Nyoni], honestly, are a pleasure to work with. They just listen to all the lads, and you can see them improving all the time. He has got a big future ahead of him, but the here and now is pretty good as well.”

Ngumoha’s player-of-the-match performance puts pressure on Arne Slot to give him the chance to become Liverpool’s youngest European goalscorer in their must-win game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

And the 17-year-old finished his interview by saying: "Let us go again."

Liverpool produced just 0.17 expected goals in the first leg, and less than half of that tally came from the front two of Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, as Ngumoha was an unused substitute at the Parc des Princes.

But he responded in the best way possible, breaking the deadlock against the dogged Cottagers to undercut Raheem Sterling’s strike against Reading in 2012 as the youngest Premier League scorer at Anfield by 92 days.

Michael Owen is the only other player to achieve that feat before turning 18, while only James Milner and Wayne Rooney have reached that milestone at a younger age than Ngumoha.

The win over Fulham opens up a four-point buffer to sixth-place Chelsea in the Premier League ahead of The Blues' clash against a highly-motivated Manchester City on Sunday, in the week that Arsenal confirmed that there will be at least five English teams in the UEFA Champions League next season.

‘Exceptional performance’ – Owen, Lescott hail Ngumoha’s display in FA Cup win

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"Coming back to Anfield and getting the three points, it is a good feeling, a great feeling," Ngumoha added. "The atmosphere was great again, so a positive day.

"It was a special goal, Robbo [Robertson] made the overlap, he created space for me, then I just cut inside and aimed for the corner.

"Liverpool, for me the biggest club in the world, [so] to start so young, and the manager having belief in me and all the players, it is great, so just got to keep working hard and keep pushing on, let us go again."

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