BREAKING ‼️: Wayne Rooney drops bombshell prediction, says Liverpool wonderkid will outshine Salah and replace Luis Díaz as the Reds’ new superstar
Liverpool began their 2025–26 Premier League season in dramatic style, securing a **4-2 victory over Bournemouth** on Friday evening. **Rio Ngumoha**, the teenage talent, was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance under **new manager Arne Slot**.
Having joined from **Chelsea’s academy**, Ngumoha impressed during **pre-season**, recording **two goals and two assists**, making the most of his opportunity to catch the attention of the staff. His displays have already drawn significant acclaim, with **Wayne Rooney** naming him as **Liverpool’s breakout star**, while also backing the team to win the **league** and **Mohamed Salah** to win the **Golden Boot** again after another high-scoring campaign last year.
Rooney additionally highlighted **Jeremie Frimpong** as the most impactful addition to the squad over the summer. The **Dutch right-back**, brought in from **Bayer Leverkusen**, found the net on his debut against **Crystal Palace** and is anticipated to fill the gap left by **Trent Alexander-Arnold**, who departed for **Real Madrid**.
With **Luis Díaz** leaving for **Bayern Munich**, a vacancy has opened up on the **left wing**. While **Cody Gakpo** appears likely to take up the position initially and **Hugo Ekitike** is another option, Ngumoha could push his way into the frame. **Ekitike’s strong debut** in the Premier League — contributing **a goal and an assist** versus Bournemouth — suggests he may be used centrally, particularly as **Darwin Núñez** has also exited and no replacement striker has been brought in.
Liverpool are monitoring **Alexander Isak** from **Newcastle**, but the **£150m price tag** could be a stumbling block. If the transfer does not go ahead, Ngumoha might receive more playing time than originally expected, even though he only turns **17 later this month**.
**Slot** remains careful but hopeful regarding the youngster’s progression. Reflecting during pre-season, he remarked:
> “I don’t know what senior players exactly means. A player like Rio has already shown he can make an impact at this level. It’s a big advantage for him to train daily with players like Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah and learn from their professionalism.”
He also noted the importance of managing the teenager’s development wisely:
> “For young players of 16 or 17, it’s already a big step to play once a week at a high level. We need to guide them carefully, because even players in their early twenties find the intensity of the Premier League demanding.”
With **Díaz** gone and Liverpool’s forward line still evolving, Ngumoha’s route into the senior setup could come sooner than anticipated. The youngster’s ability is clear — it’s now a question of **when**, not **if**, he will
seize his moment.
