I still can’t get my head around it.
After watching Rio Ngumoha produce one of the best displays from a Liverpool winger I’ve seen in a long time against Villarreal, I was desperate to see him given another start against Brighton.
Instead, Andoni Iraola went with Cody Gakpo — and I have to question that decision.
Nobody is suggesting Gakpo is a bad player. He has quality, experience and the ability to make a difference for Liverpool. But football is about performances, confidence and rewarding players who are making things happen.
And after what Ngumoha did in midweek, I genuinely believe he had earned his place in the starting eleven.
Ngumoha Was Unplayable Against Villarreal
Liverpool’s 4-3 victory over Villarreal was a dramatic night at Anfield, but for me, one of the biggest talking points was Ngumoha’s performance.
He was electric.
Every time he got the ball, there was a feeling that something could happen. He had the confidence to take defenders on, the pace to get past them and the ability to create opportunities when Liverpool desperately needed inspiration.
His two assists were outstanding contributions, but his overall display was about much more than the statistics.
He played with freedom, confidence and a fearlessness that is difficult to teach.
That is exactly what you want from a winger. Someone who is prepared to attack defenders rather than simply pass the ball backwards or sideways. Someone who can turn a difficult situation into a dangerous one in a matter of seconds.
Ngumoha gave Liverpool that spark against Villarreal, and I came away from the game thinking he had made an incredibly strong case to start the next match.
So imagine my disappointment when the team was announced against Brighton.
Ngumoha was on the bench.
Gakpo Started — But What Had He Done to Deserve It?
This is where I struggle to understand Iraola’s thinking.
Gakpo had a difficult evening against Villarreal, while Ngumoha was one of Liverpool’s standout performers. Yet Gakpo was selected again against Brighton, with the teenager left waiting for his opportunity.
I understand that managers have to consider the opposition, tactical plans, fitness and the demands of a busy schedule.
But surely current form has to count for something?
Gakpo had another frustrating afternoon against Brighton. He worked hard, carried the ball forward and caused problems with his running, but his end product was wasteful at times.
There were opportunities to make better decisions in the final third, including a counter-attack when he failed to find Alexander Isak in a promising position. He also blasted over late in the game.
That is the frustrating part. Gakpo can do so much good work to get into dangerous positions, only to let himself down with the final decision.
And when you have a young player sitting on the bench who has just delivered two assists and looked full of confidence, it is only natural to ask why he wasn’t given the opportunity to build on that performance.
I am not saying Gakpo should never start again. That would be ridiculous.
But nobody should be guaranteed a place in this Liverpool team simply because of their reputation or experience.
Performances should matter.
What Message Does This Send to Ngumoha?
This is perhaps the biggest issue for me.
Young players need opportunities, but they also need to feel that outstanding performances will be rewarded.
Ngumoha did everything he could against Villarreal to put himself in the conversation for another start. He showed confidence, creativity and the courage to take responsibility on a big European night.
What more could he reasonably have done?
Of course, Iraola might have been managing his minutes or protecting him from being overworked. Ngumoha is still young, and Liverpool have plenty of important matches coming up.
That is a fair argument.
However, there is a difference between protecting a young player and leaving him out when his form suggests he deserves to play.
Liverpool supporters want to see their most dangerous attacking players on the pitch. After Villarreal, Ngumoha looked like one of those players.
Against Brighton, he was restricted to a late substitute appearance.
He worked hard after coming on, but there was little time for him to influence the game. By then, Liverpool were protecting their two-goal lead rather than looking to overwhelm Brighton with attacking football.
I wanted to see what he could do from the first whistle.
I wanted to see him running at defenders, stretching the pitch and giving Brighton another problem to worry about.
We never really got that opportunity.
Liverpool Won — But That Doesn’t Mean Every Decision Was Right
To be clear, Liverpool deserved credit for their 2-0 victory.
The Reds started aggressively, scored twice in the first half and secured an important Premier League home win under Iraola. Bradley Barcola made an excellent contribution to Isak’s goal, while Florian Wirtz and Ronald Araújo were also influential.
Gakpo had his moments, too. His performance wasn’t without positives, and Liverpool shouldn’t turn a winning afternoon into a debate about one selection decision.
But winning doesn’t mean every decision has to escape scrutiny.
The second half was far less convincing, with Brighton enjoying plenty of possession and Liverpool struggling to maintain the same attacking threat.
Would Ngumoha have made a difference had he started? We will never know.
Perhaps Brighton would have found a way to contain him. Perhaps he would have produced another match-winning contribution.
What we do know is that he had just delivered a superb performance against Villarreal, and Liverpool chose not to give him the chance to carry that momentum into the next game.
For me, that was a missed opportunity.
Iraola Must Reward Form, Not Just Reputation
I like what Iraola is trying to build at Liverpool, and I believe there are reasons to be optimistic about the direction of the team.
But one thing I want to see is a manager who is prepared to make bold decisions.
If a young player is performing better than an established option, give him the opportunity.
If a winger is full of confidence and defenders are struggling to cope with him, let him continue playing.
And if an experienced player is being wasteful in the final third, make it clear that his place in the team is not guaranteed.
That is how competition for places should work.
Ngumoha shouldn’t expect to start every match just because he impressed against Villarreal. He still has plenty to learn, and there will be games when experience and tactical discipline are more important.
But he has shown that he can make a genuine difference at this level.
Liverpool need players who can unlock defences, create chances and give supporters something to get excited about. Ngumoha has already demonstrated those qualities.
I want to see more of him — and I don’t think I’m alone.
My Verdict: Ngumoha Had Earned His Start
I am delighted Liverpool beat Brighton, and the three points were hugely important.
But I still can’t understand why Ngumoha wasn’t in the starting eleven.
After his outstanding performance against Villarreal, he had earned the opportunity to start again. Gakpo, meanwhile, was wasteful against Brighton and had struggled in midweek.
That doesn’t mean Gakpo should be written off. It means Liverpool should be selecting their team on merit, form and what each player can offer in a particular match.
Ngumoha is an exciting talent, and the last thing I want is for his development to be held back when he is clearly showing what he can do.
Iraola has earned credit for the Brighton victory, but I hope he takes another look at this decision before Liverpool’s next big matches.
Rio Ngumoha has done enough to deserve more than a few minutes off the bench. Let the lad play!
Jamie – (The Kopite View)
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