Arne Slot has revealed that Rio Ngumoha was “fortunate” to start out towards Accrington Stanley on Saturday, with Federico Chiesa not concerned within the buildup.
Ngumoha made a shock full debut as Liverpool hosted League Two aspect Accrington Stanley within the FA Cup, turning into the membership’s youngest-ever participant within the competitors.
It got here with Chiesa starting the sport on the bench, to the shock of many, with the Italian solely launched at half-time for Dominik Szoboszlai.
He went on to attain his first purpose for the membership to make it 4-0 in a dominant win for Liverpool, with Slot revealing in his post-match press convention that he would have been within the beginning XI had been it not for sickness.
“Rio was fortunate that Federico wasn’t with us within the final two days, as a result of he was sick,” the top coach defined.
“In any other case Federico would have began in fact.
“Now he may play 45, so we may convey Dom 45 minutes, convey him out after which convey Federico.
“I believe it’s good to make your debut and I believe for those who’ve performed for this membership already you then wish to rating your first purpose, particularly in entrance of your personal followers.
“That’s what he did now, in order that’s subsequent step.
“Let’s not get carried away an excessive amount of as a result of, though I favored the best way Accrington Stanley performed so much, it’s ultimately a League Two staff.
“But it surely’s positively subsequent step for him to be accessible and even rating a purpose.”
Requested if Chiesa had been left annoyed with an entirely disappointing begin to life at Liverpool, Slot admitted: “That’s positively true.
“But when a participant is match and he doesn’t get the possibility to indicate it it’s additionally a frustration.
“The most effective a part of being a footballer is enjoying, doing nicely and profitable.
“Should you don’t play, as a result of the supervisor makes a special choice otherwise you’re not accessible, that’s all the time troublesome for each participant, as a result of each participant desires to do what he loves most.
“Even I might like to play nonetheless, however sadly that isn’t attainable anymore!”
Chiesa has now seen no less than three sicknesses affect his involvement for Liverpool, together with a collection of unknown accidents in an extended battle for full health.
The hope will probably be that the £12.5 million summer season signing can acquire a foothold as a part of Slot’s first-team squad – although hypothesis over a mid-season return to Serie A has nonetheless not died down.
That comes with winger Khvicha Kvaratskhalia handing in a switch request amid curiosity from Liverpool, with Chiesa thought-about an possibility to interchange him at Napoli.
Liverpool 4-0 Accrington Stanley
