ReactionRio Ngumoha: Pre-season has been top - it's a showcase for everyone

The Liverpool No.73 was on the scoresheet with a deflected goal in the second half to give his team a 1-0 win over Wrexham in New York on Wednesday.

That result at Yankee Stadium made it back-to-back victories for the Reds on their tour of the USA, following a 4-2 defeat of Sunderland in Nashville.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com post-match, Ngumoha reflected on the latest friendly, the incentive to impress Iraola, where he wants to improve, and more.

Read the Q&A below…

On the nature of his goal and claiming it…

I don’t know, it was a bit scruffy! But if you don’t shoot, you don’t score! So, yeah, I’ll claim that.

On how much he has enjoyed pre-season…

It has been good. All the lads are treating me like I’m a professional player. Obviously, I’m still young and I’m learning, but all the players have been top. It has been good.

On the playing time he is getting…

When we have the meeting before the game, that’s when we find out. It’s all a surprise. We’re just working hard in training. It has been top.

On how his goal came about…

Dom [Szoboszlai] received the ball, I was just running and obviously I slipped a bit. I tried to drive and I just saw a shot. I shot and it went in. Any little gap you can find really in the box is what it’s about.

On this being an important pre-season for him and his ambitions rising…

Definitely. On from the end of last season, I just want to play and start as many games as I can. These games are a really good showcase to show the manager, because it’s a fresh start for everyone. It’s really important and it’s good.

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On what Iraola is asking from him individually…

Pressing. We like to press high – so any duels we can win, we can go at full speed. And then on the ball, when I get the chance one-v-one, take it on. If not, look, come back and keep playing. Goals and assists as well.

On whether he is told to ‘just play his normal game’…

All the coaching staff are just telling me to play my normal game really, whether that’s going inside or outside. I’ve been working on it in training anyway, playing on the right and the left. Just being unpredictable really.