LIVERPOOL, England: Liverpool are preparing for a crucial winter period when Mohamed Salah will be helping his country Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from December 21 to January 18 in Morocco.
Salah’s absence could potentially cause the striker to miss a month of action in a phase that often determines the English Premier League (EPL) championship.
The situation sparked a debate about Arne Slot’s management selection strategy.
Slot previously used Federico Chiesa’s services cautiously.
The Italian striker has scored two goals in the EPL but is still a rotation option.
Chiesa is expected to be given more opportunities in Salah’s absence, providing a natural replacement with his quick and aggressive movements in the opposition area.
Slot also uses Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on the left side, thus increasing competition for playing minutes and emphasizing technical safety in high-stakes matches.
The focus is now on how many minutes Rio Ngumoha will get.
The 17-year-old has only played 30 minutes in the EPL this season, but Slot appreciates his greatness and feels he is ready to be used.
Ngumoha’s debut may not be until the new year, when Liverpool face this season’s FA Cup, but the AFCON window opens up an opportunity for the young player to shine.
Ngumoha, who left Chelsea at the age of 15 before signing his first professional contract earlier this season, is considered the club’s most exciting long-term project.
Slots are not in a hurry but recognize the opportunity to shape the player’s development.
Fan support for Ngumoha is high and many see Salah’s absence as the best opportunity for him to shine, even if it’s just a brief appearance.
Attention is also being drawn to Chiesa, who has rarely been given full appearances before, with some supporters believing he could impress if given a consistent chance.
Liverpool now have a deeper and more versatile squad under Slot and if Ngumoha can shine throughout this period, it could be one of the main stories of the season.