Arne Slot appears reluctant to give Rio Ngumoha extended minutes, with age reportedly a key factor in the decision. But if that is truly the reasoning, it simply doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
Football history is full of examples where talent mattered more than birth certificates.
Trent Alexander-Arnold broke into Liverpool’s first team as a teenager and never looked back. Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene at 16 and dominated the Premier League almost immediately. Michael Owen became a global name before he was even 20.
Age didn’t hold them back — ability decided it.
Impact Over Numbers
Ngumoha’s brief cameo against Nottingham Forest showed confidence, directness and fearlessness. In just 13 minutes, he injected more urgency into Liverpool’s attack than others managed in over an hour.
If a player is good enough, he’s old enough.
Holding him back purely because of age risks slowing his development and denying Liverpool a spark they clearly need.
The Bigger Question
Liverpool’s attack has looked blunt at times this season. When creativity and energy are lacking, why not trust the player who offers exactly that?
Slot’s caution may come from a desire to protect a young talent, but there is a balance between protection and progression. The great managers know when to trust youth.
And sometimes, bravery is rewarded.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
The Kopite View 
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