NewsRio Ngumoha interview: Liverpool's togetherness, Iraola faith and Fulham memories

The Reds welcome Fulham to Anfield on Saturday afternoon (3pm BST kick-off) as they return to Premier League action.

Iraola's side head into the fixture following their first two wins of the 2026-27 season over Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid respectively.

Ngumoha, who made his first Champions League start in midweek, is hopeful he and his teammates can harness the positive mood they have gathered heading into this weekend.

• Liverpool v Fulham: Team news

"I think we can't ask for much more of a better start [to the week] really," Ngumoha told Liverpoolfc.com. "[A] first win in the Premier League [and then a] first one in the Champions League. Hopefully we can get three wins this week against Fulham. It's been good."

The winger added: "If we can get the three points on the weekend – hopefully – then that leads into the League Cup [against Tottenham] and then the last game on Sunday against Bournemouth before the international break.

"It would be ideal if we could win all of them. The Premier League is tough, it's the toughest league in the world, but I think we're more than capable to definitely give the fans what they want and the manager and show everyone why this season we're not coming to play about, let's say."

Read on for the rest of our interview with the No.73.

On making his full Champions League debut in midweek…

It was crazy. In the morning when I knew when the gaffer put out the team, I saw my name there. I was like, 'Yeah, today's going to be a good day!' A first start in the Champions League, especially at Anfield and against a good side. To get the three points and just hear the fans, like I said the other day, Anfield was roaring, I couldn't ask for much more.

On Iraola putting his trust in him…

Like I said, the gaffer, [for him] to put faith in me and to show me that he believes in my abilities and qualities to help the team get a win is really positive. I couldn't ask for much more.

On there being a sense of 'togetherness' in the squad…

We've always had the togetherness and also out in the training pitch the gaffer, Tommy [Elphick], we have Coops [Shaun Cooper], we have Pablo [de la Torre] as well, they all tell us we have to press and we have to work hard. But they install the mentality between us and this season we're going to do stuff that's different and special. It's been good.

On how much he has enjoyed working with Iraola…

It's been a pleasure so far. In pre-season he was just getting his ideas across to me and the team and what he wants. For me, he wants me to be direct on the ball. He knows my qualities and if I can just get at a man quicker and help put a ball in the box or get a shot off, then that's my job really. Then off the ball as well, you have to work off the ball, whether it's tracking a full-back and stuff. It's been good.

On playing on both flanks as a winger…

I think on the right I've been all right. It hasn't been my natural position but every day on the training pitch I'm just trying to improve and get better on the right. Because if I can play both sides then it gives the manager to think that, 'OK, Rio can play on the left and the right and he can do both positions well, so he can help the team.' We have a lot of players now like me, Cody [Gakpo], Victor [Munoz] and Bradley [Barcola] and they're just trying to get us all to play off both sides, which is really good. It's positive.

On the impact of defenders Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo…

Ronald's big, strong, powerful and he's been such a good addition. He can play right-back, centre-back, so in multiple positions as well. Jeremy, he's only 21 and he looks mature and on the ball he looks fearless and off the ball, no-one can get past him. But in training as well, playing against Ronald and Jeremy can help me a lot, and all the other attackers as well, because they're some of the best players in the world in their position.

On there being competition for places after the arrival of Munoz and Barcola…

I think it's healthy competition. In the games if they score it gives you a drive as well to help the team score. If we're getting results then at the end of the day we all play for the team and we all want the team to do well. I think just having that competition is there, it keeps us on our toes as well because you can't get too complacent. It's really good.

On his goal against Fulham last season…

That was a special day. My first goal at Anfield and I think it was my first Premier League start as well. Hopefully we can just repeat ourselves, hopefully get a start and help the team with either a goal or assist – because assists are just as important as well.