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 with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth on Friday evening. Young talent Rio Ngumoha was named among the substitutes but did not make an appearance under new manager Arne Slot.
Ngumoha, who joined from Chelsea’s youth setup, impressed during pre-season by contributing two goals and two assists, making the most of his opportunity to catch the coaching team’s attention. His displays have already drawn significant acclaim, with Wayne Rooney describing him as Liverpool’s potential “breakout star” and backing the team to secure the title, while also forecasting that Mohamed Salah would regain the “Golden Boot” following another standout campaign last term.
Rooney further highlighted Jeremie Frimpong as the club’s key summer addition. The Dutch full-back, brought in from Bayer Leverkusen, found the net on his debut against Crystal Palace and is expected to fill the gap left by Trent Alexander-Arnold after his switch to Real Madrid.
The exit of Luis Díaz to Bayern Munich has opened up space on the left wing. Although Cody Gakpo appears likely to assume that position initially and Hugo Ekitike remains an alternative, Ngumoha may still break into the mix. Ekitike’s strong league debut — scoring and assisting versus Bournemouth — suggests he may lead the line, especially with Darwin Núñez also departing and no new central forward signed yet.
Liverpool are reportedly interested in Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, but the Tyneside club’s £150 million asking price could be a stumbling block. If no deal is struck, Ngumoha might get more playing time than initially expected, even though he doesn’t turn 17 until later this month.
Slot remains measured yet hopeful regarding the teenager’s progression. In pre-season, he commented:
“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 further stressed the importance of managing Ngumoha’s development carefully:
“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 attacking lineup still evolving, Ngumoha’s route into the senior squad may open up sooner than anticipated. The young forward’s ability is clear — it’s now just a q
uestion of timing.
