Q&ARio Ngumoha interview: England experience, fans' backing and areas to improve

The forward made 29 appearances for the Reds in 2025-26, which began with him becoming the youngest goalscorer in club history with a stoppage-time winner away at Newcastle United.

He gained ever more minutes as the campaign progressed and his development was acknowledged by a call-up from England for a pre-World Cup training camp.

Still just 17, Ngumoha added a senior international game to his CV with a half of action versus New Zealand in June.

Now back at Liverpool and in pre-season build-up, he is determined to maintain an upward trajectory from ‘exciting young player’ to be an established figure.

We caught up with the No.73 after the team’s latest training session in Chicago on Wednesday – read the Q&A below.

Rio, nice to catch up with you, tell us how your summer was, first of all?

It was good, thank you. After the England experience, I just spent time back in London and went on holiday with my family and friends. So, yeah, it was good.

How nice and meaningful was it for you to get that call-up from England and tell us a little bit about being involved?

It was crazy, to be fair. I think I got the call-up just before the last game of the season, the technical director of the FA texted me saying, ‘I need to chat with you.’ And then he just told me I’m going to be in the training camp, which is good. Then I got there, then met everyone, training was top, and I got to play. It was an unreal experience I will never forget.

And you really took your chance as well in the game that you had…

Yeah, it was good. I knew that there was no pressure from my side so I could just go out there and express myself and enjoy the occasion.

Looking back on last season with Liverpool, obviously a difficult one collectively but a real breakthrough for you. How do you assess it now? Did you feel you got a lot more comfortable at the level as the season went on?

Definitely. All my teammates, all the boys, they helped me throughout the whole season. Because at the start, they just knew me as an exciting young player that’s coming up. But now I feel like they really see me as one of them, even though I’m still young and they also treat me as a young player, they also treat me like one of them as well. It was very good last season. Obviously not from the team point of view, but I experienced a lot and gained a lot of experience last season.

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I wanted to ask you about the fans as well because they’ve been backing you and really made you a popular figure since you first appeared. How does it feel to hear your name being sung at Anfield?

The fans are amazing. For me, the best fans in the world, without a doubt, and I love them. They love the team and they always come to the games and support the players and support me, so I’m so grateful for that.

Looking ahead to this season, then. Ambitions, objectives, targets for you... where would you like to improve and move forward this year?

Definitely help the team out with goals and assists, but also my defensive actions as well. I’ve got to improve in both of them, but also just try to implement myself as a starter sometimes. Coming off the bench as well, because obviously we have so many players, so many top players, we’re all competing for places. But it’s healthy competition. Just try to help the team as much as I can really.

And we’ve seen you a little more on the right at times with England in the summer and in training so far. Is that another option for you as well as the left?

Yeah, definitely. I think being unpredictable off both sides is key. Obviously, everyone knows I can play on the left, but on the right I feel like I’m improving and I’m getting better. So, yeah, definitely off the left and the right this season.