Steven Gerrard pleads Arne Slot to play Rio Ngumoha in FA Cup clash following 'desperate' Liverpool showing in Wolverhampton Wanderers defeat

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Liverpool were "desperate" and "really poor" in their last-gasp Premier League defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Tuesday, according to former Reds captain and TNT Sports expert Steven Gerrard. He wants to see teenager Rio Ngumoha in the team when Arne Slot's side return to Molineux for the Emirates FA Cup fifth round on Friday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

Gerrard: 'Desperate' Liverpool need to start Ngumoha

Video credit: TNT Sports

Steven Gerrard wants to see Rio Ngumoha given the nod in the Emirates FA Cup on Friday as Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers reunite just days after their Premier League clash.

Rock-bottom Wolves defeated Arne Slot's UEFA Champions League contenders in a shock 2-1 victory to earn back-to-back league wins for the first time since April.

Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves ahead with just over 10 minutes of normal time remaining, but Mohamed Salah scored his first Premier League goal since November 1 to draw level in the 83rd minute.

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But just like in their impressive victory over title challengers Aston Villa at the weekend, they scored deep into added time again as Andre stole all three points in the 94th minute.

Gerrard was on punditry duty for TNT Sports and, after labelling Liverpool's performance as "desperate", insisted that Slot should put his faith in 17-year-old Ngumoha for Friday's FA Cup tie against Wolves.

The Reds quickly return to Molineux for FA Cup action - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - and the club's former captain feels that the teenager's inspiring cameo off the bench on Tuesday has earned him a start in the fifth round clash.

"For 65 minutes, Liverpool were desperate, really poor," Gerrard said. "Didn't create enough, didn't play at the right speed or the right tempo, didn't have enough quality.

Highlights: Wolves stun champions Liverpool in dramatic finale at Molineux

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"He has to start Ngumoha now, he has to start because he's coming on and doing more in a short cameo and a short space of time than [Cody] Gakpo is doing in 65, 70 minutes.

"He deserves a start now, he's got to start the kid on Friday night."

Ngumoha came off the bench and looked sharp in his 25 minutes of action. He created two chances and was denied by a wonder save from Jose Sa as he looked to steer Liverpool level with a low effort which was expertly tipped onto the post.

The teenager has played in both FA Cup matches so far this season, against Barnsley and Brighton & Hove Albion.

Wolves have 'made them angry' - Edwards

Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, Wolves boss Rob Edwards said that Wolves will "keep fighting" for survival until the last day of the season, despite being 11 points from safety.

He also said that there is no "dark cloud" around the club, as his team continues in the "right direction".

"We just want to try and keep improving, we're doing that at the moment," he said. "I think everyone's seeing that now.

"Probably, from the outside looking in, there's a bit of a dark cloud around Molineux and the training ground. It's not that at all, there's a good energy around and there's a belief that we're going in the right direction.

"We're in a really difficult position in the league, but we've shown a lot of what you have to show at the moment. Whatever happens until that 38th game, we'll keep fighting."

Watch as Edwards goes 'full Mourinho' with celebratory touchline sprint

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Garrard asked if Edwards would stick to the same plan for Friday's FA Cup match, to which he replied: "It's really interesting now, with a couple of days in between.

"We'll have made them angry as well, so we know how difficult it will be on Friday.

"I've got to digest it, look back at it, there will be things for us to learn and improve on and take into Friday's game, but it's a different day, it will be different again, but obviously, a similar group of players so let's see if we can do it again."

Stream the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Men's and Women's FA Cup and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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