Rio Ngumoha will become the youngest player ever to start a competitive match for Liverpool.
The forward, who is 16 years and 135 days old, was a surprise inclusion in Arne Slot’s starting XI to face Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup on Saturday – live on talkSPORT.
Ngumoha joined Liverpool from Chelsea on his 16th birthday in a pre-agreed deal which left the Blues furious.
It is understood they subsequently banned Liverpool and Manchester United scouts from attending academy fixtures in the fallout of Ngumoha’s exit.
Since arriving at Liverpool, the highly-rated Englishman has only competed at Under-18 and Under-19 level so far.
Ngumoha was an unused substitute for the Carabao Cup quarter-final against Southampton and regularly trains with the first-team.
His inclusion in the starting XI against League Two side Accrington Stanley not only makes him the youngest player ever to feature in an FA Cup match for Liverpool, but also the youngest player ever to start any competitive fixture.
Ngumoha overtakes Harvey Elliott, who was 16 years and 174 days old on his Liverpool debut against MK Dons in the EFL Cup in 2019.
Jerome Sinclair remains the youngest player in the Reds’ competitive history, having featured at the age of 16 years and six days in 2012 – but he did not start the match.
Explaining the decision to start Ngumoha, Slot said: “It is always special when a young player makes his debut, no matter which country you are in. You know what it means to the player.
“He is a young kid that has been with us for half a season. He has trained mostly with the Under-21s but sometimes with us.
“But when he has been with us, he isn’t afraid to do what he is good at – taking players on. I hope he gets the chance to show his quality.”
It is also a debut for Slot – who is managing in the FA Cup for the first time ever.
The Dutchman added: “I know a lot about this tournament. The domestic cups aren’t that special in other countries but everyone knows it means a bit more here.
“It is a special game for us too. Many of the players who start today haven’t played too much. It is a chance for them to show they have more playing time. I am hoping and expecting that our players want to prove a point.
“If you look at the players who start, almost all of them haven’t played that much. There isn’t many options to do that. Szoboszlai has been out through illness so he missed a few games.
“Conor Bradley has had a hamstring injury and played a couple of days ago so Trent starts. I didn’t feel it was the right time for him to play again.”
Liverpool XI to face Accrington Stanley: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Quansah, Tsimikas, Morton, Szoboszlai, Ngumoha, Elliott, Jota, Nunez.
Subs: Jaros, Diaz, Mac Allister, Chiesa, Robertson, McConnell, Danns, Bradley, Nyoni.
Listen to the clash live on talkSPORT!