Liverpool news: Arne Slot's brutally honest Rio Ngumoha verdict as Carragher makes demand

Jamie Carragher made his stance clear on Liverpool's attacking options after their last-minute win over Nottingham Forest

Criticism was in store for some Liverpool players despite earning a crucial 1-0 victory against Nottingham Forest. The Reds' Sunday trip to the City Ground resulted in all three points thanks to Alexis Mac Allister's 97th-minute strike.

The victory put the champions level on points with Chelsea, with the top four race continuing to heat up with 10 games to go. The win, Liverpool's second away 1-0 victory on the trot in the league, didn't stop criticism being thrown the way of Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo for their limp attacking showing against the struggling side.

It was Arne Slot's decision to sub them off while bringing on Rio Ngumoha, 17, that served as the catalyst for the Reds finding a stoppage-time winner minutes after Mac Allister's first goal was chalked off for handball.

The Dutchman gave his honest feedback on the teenager's future while Jamie Carragher urged the Reds boss to make a brave selection decision amid the race for Champions League qualification. Mirror Football takes a look at the biggest stories surrounding Anfield.

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Slot's Ngumoha verdict

The introduction of Ngumoha in the 77th minute changed the game for Liverpool. In what was mostly a tepid attacking performance from the reigning champions, the teenager's lively cameo led to Mac Allister's initial goal, which was ruled out for handball after a VAR check.

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The Argentine struck again from close range in the 97th minute, with that effort standing to give the Reds a crucial three points. It was the 17-year-old who came in for huge praise from the likes of Carragher and Daniel Sturridge, as well as his own coach in Slot.

"He gets stronger and stronger," Slot said of Ngumoha. "Apart from his moment when he had his one-v-one, there were also one or two other moments where he stands his ground.

"That is what you need because you face 25, 26, 27, 28-year-old athletes mainly as your opponents because we are a bit of an exception in terms of our age group of players. Most teams have players of different ages and physicality."

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Despite the clamouring for Ngumoha to be given more minutes, Slot claimed his teenage starlet needs more than talent to forge a career at the top level. The Dutchman explained: "For him to show this already at 17 years of age, it says something about his talent.

"But as we all know, talent is only the start of his career, you need so many other things, we have shown today; Macca a great example of mentality and that is something you need to have a career at this level."

Carragher's demand

Among those impressed by the teenager's cameo was Carragher, who offered a damning verdict on the lacklustre performances from Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo. The Reds icon insisted that Ngumoha deserves a run in Slot's line-up because of what he offers to a forward line currently devoid of pace and unpredictability.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said: "Ngumoha did more in 15 minutes than Salah and Gakpo did before that. He changed the game and needs to be starting games.

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