05 Jun 2026 20:39:33
If Kompany spoke directly to Rio or his camp that is tapping up.

1.) 05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 2026 21:20:47
I think regardless of who stays or goes, we need to sign some players now before letting any more leave.

Salah, Konate, Robbo. All gone. Need some incomings.

2.) 05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 2026 21:31:15
Spot on LFC8, we really need to retain as many as possible. We do lack depth from the bench as well.

3.) 05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 2026 22:22:41
Rio was genuinely interested in playing more, and felt Slot was not going to facilitate that. Bayern offered 35m, Slot was sacked and the whole thing blew over.

The issue now is that Rio, and players in general, are less patient and expect more, quicker.



Rio is not ready for more than as a rotation option, unless he wants to be the next Sterling, or worse. He has a lot of development to do before he can meet expectations and for his body to be able to cope.

4.) 05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 2026 22:48:09
Fully agree FSW, fantastic raw talent, but very much raw, definitely deserves more game time, but certainly not capable of being our go to on the left.

5.) 05 Jun 2026
05 Jun 2026 23:27:37
The only way he'll get to be our 'go to man on the left' is by actually playing him on the left. He's 18 in August and there are precedents for lads that age to make their mark in the PL. Kroupi and Rayan are both 19 and they did well last season in the PL. Obviously, because they did well doesn't mean that Rio will automatically do well too, but AI isn't shy of using youngsters if he thinks they are ready to go, and he seems to be able to draw out their potential.



If I was Rio, I'd be trying to show him what I'm capable of - if he does that, he might well make their mark starting spot his own with Gakpo, if he is still on the books, being more the utility forward covering LW and CF.

6.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 06:44:27
You need permission to speak with the player, but you talk to his agent whenever you like. Happens all the time. Liverpool are constantly doing it.

7.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 06:59:34
Yes WDW, but both of them turn 20 before Rio even turns 18. Rayan got (1205) minutes, albeit only from Jan, and Kroupi had (1839) minutes. Rio had just under a 1000 for the 1st team last season, so he is well ahead of schedule.

We all just need to relax and let him develop. He will be a top player, but should not imo be the main man on the left for a side trying to win the league.

8.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 07:33:23
I always look at when Ronaldo was at Utd, and how Fergie managed him since he arrived.

That's how we should look at managing Rio. He's 17, people.
We cannot expect him to be our savior, but nurture and mentor him correctly, and brother time he is 21/22, then he'll be ready to carry this club on his shoulders.

9.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 08:16:37
@JLC, why jump to the extremest the start of a conversation? Show me who has said that Rio is expected to be our saviour? What does that even mean?

@Florian, the point I was making is that Ngumoha will be 18 by the time the season starts, and that it is hardly unique to see 18 year olds playing in the PL. As I said in a different thread, Rio is absolutely nowhere near the finished article, but as a regular member of the match day squad, certainly in the second half of last season, it would seem that he has, largely, by-passed the U-18s / 21s and the logical step is for him to have more game time.

Only an idiot would think he would play 60+ games next season, but, by the same token, AI picks players on merit seemingly irrespective of age. Time for Rio to take the next step and show that the hype is justified. The only way he can do that is by convincing AI to pick him and then to play well enough to keep his spot.

I'm looking at it from the point of view of a Liverpool fan wanting a youngster with potential to kick on and establish himself in the team. I'd rather see him do well than spend crazy prices on the latest YouTube highlights sensation.

10.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 08:51:50
No it's not unique. But I can't think of many playing at the moment apart from Mane at Wolves. I'm agreeing with you, WDW. We both want the same thing and that's for Rio to progress and be a real option on the left. I was just saying that, when compared to the two players you mentioned, that the two year gap is absolutely massive at their age.

Rio could have well surpassed where they are now by the time he turns 20. I do think, though, that at the moment Rio should not be a first 11 regular for a team with title ambitions. Maybe he'll prove me wrong this season.

11.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 09:00:15
Wdw rio only bypassed the u18s/u21s he has been foolishly be promised first team football, that's not earning it, ed1 has said he should be back there learning more than step overs and cutting inside, 2 assists and 1 goal isn't great

{Ed001's Note - I have said he is not ready for our first team, putting him in the youth leagues is not what he needs. A proper reserve league would be good, but as we don't do that any more, he either comes in and out of the team and plays irregularly or goes out on loan. But he is not ready to be a starter.}

12.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 09:10:31
Young attackers don't fare well at the top level of the Prem. Because they're always up against the brand new investment that costs a ton and thus get priority. I.e. we're currently going after another teenager, currently playing in Germany, who's being valued near £100m.

That's just the reality. In my opinion, he should have been loaned out the season just gone. He should be getting regular experience at playing 90 minutes, leaving England, learning a new language, experiencing a new culture, getting his first yellow/red card etc... All these things build the required character for the Prem.



There's a reason that there are no teenage attackers playing regular football at the top end of the table. Because the Prem has turned into a league that is very unforgiving to teams that can't compete physically. More contact is permitted by the officials here, both by plan and in error. When he's on the field, it would be difficult for us to apply counter-pressure which is fatiguing and may only grant him 45 minutes of contribution. Where leagues like Spain and Germany favour the attacker, both in how they train, play and officiate.

13.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 09:54:01
Sterling had a decent career in all respects.

14.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 10:05:46
There's a lot of overhyping of Rio going on here by some posters which he simply has not earned. Not even close. Let us not be fooled by the way he played during a shambolic season where no one could do anything tight, and that started from the manager.

This reminds me of when Bacetic came in to play and play well in a dead LFC team of its last legs, and many thought he was ready to step up. Can someone tell me how that has worked out? Exactly. And let's stop comparing him to Gakpo.

Gakpo is near a decade older, an established international, a PL winner and has been playing grown-up footie for years. Let's stop with that cos that does not help Rio at all.

To me, Rio is in the same boat. I'm not fooled cos I've seen this movie before. Rio ain't ready, plain and simple, so if Bayern really want him then we can either tell them to get lost, or we ask for Olise in exchange. Or pay what they would like others to pay for Olise to get Rio off our hands. Just my opinion.

15.) 06 Jun 2026
06 Jun 2026 10:45:45
Bajcetic has disappeared because of injury and a perceived bad attitude. Two things we haven't seen Rio have yet. Why is Rio exempt from this season where no one did anything right? Everyone expects the same players to perform better under a new manager, so surely Rio should too.

I agree with you, Oli, that Rio is not ready yet, to start every week, but I would expect a lot more minutes for him this season, and he can be good cover on the left for now.