Jamie Carragher heaped praise on Rio Ngumoha following Liverpool’s nervy 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, crediting the teenager with ‘changing the sport’.
The reigning Premier League champions had looked on target to drop yet more points after Alexis Mac Allister had a goal disallowed for handball deep into stoppage time on the City Ground.
The visitors had struggled to construct any real momentum over the course of the 90 minutes, against a team hovering just two points above the relegation zone.
But just moments after his initial effort was chalked off, Mac Allister picked himself up and located a vital winner for the Merseyside giants to cue rapturous scenes within the away end.
Referee Anthony Taylor eventually signalled that the goal should stand after a lengthy VAR check for a possible offside call within the build-up, much to the relief of nervous-looking Arne Slot on the touchline.
The result – Liverpool’s third win on the bounce in all competitions – ensured Slot’s men moved level on points with Chelsea and Manchester United, who’ve a game in hand over their two rivals.
‘It was superb margins. We actually struggled in the primary half,’ the Liverpool’s head coach said of his side’s uninspiring performance at Forest.
Get your football fix
Don’t need to miss the week’s biggest football stories? Metro’s exclusive football newsletter, In The Mixer, is your essential guide.
From the newest transfer rumours and managerial moves to evaluation of the largest games and lots more, our experts have you ever covered.
Join here, it’s an open goal.
‘We were the lucky ones scoring within the overtime.’
On Mac Allister’s disallowed goal, Slot added: ‘I actually have to see it back to guage if it’s the precise decision. The offside or onside is factual.
‘In the primary half, the one part I liked was the defending in our box. We showed a distinct Liverpool within the second half.
‘We tried to bring fresh wingers in and that led to our first disallowed goal. Joe Gomez brought the long throw in.
Slot admitted he was ‘surprised’ by Forest’s lowly league position considering the standard and resilience they showed before Mac Allister’s last-gasp winner.
‘I actually have seen us defending poorer in our own box this season. That is perhaps right down to the standard of Forest,’ the Dutchman continued.
‘I’m surprised by the league position they’re in. We didn’t give away many big probabilities but we gave the ball away each time.
‘I actually have to alter my line-up continuously, not so late this time. Florian [Wirtz] is in great shape and Curtis Jones played well last week against Brighton.’
Ngumoha was an actual brilliant spark for Liverpool after replacing Mohamed Salah within the 77th minute, causing Forest’s tiring defenders problems along with his pace and energy.
‘There was a player who got here on for Liverpool: Rio Ngumoha, who got here on within the 77th minute,’ Carragher said of the 17-year-old’s eye-catching cameo performance on Sky Sports’ commentary.
‘He did more in quarter-hour than [Cody] Gakpo and Salah had done up until that time.
‘He absolutely modified the sport, this kid, and he needs more of a chance. He does, he needs to begin starting games.
‘Mac Allister gets the winner, it was slightly bit unlucky that he didn’t get the winner a couple of minutes earlier.
‘But he was one other player who really struggled on this game and Liverpool do struggle physically.
‘That [problem] is for the summer by way of what they do recruitment-wise and the makeup of this team.
‘They couldn’t cope for long periods of this game but, as I said, I don’t think there’s anyone higher in Premier League history at getting last-minute winner and that’s Liverpool.’
Despite popping up to save lots of his side on the death, Liverpool’s match-winner Mac Allister said he was left with ‘mixed’ emotions after the ultimate whistle.
‘I’ve got mixed feelings to be honest. I really like scoring, I really like winning, so, in that sense, I believe it’s a extremely good day,’ the Argentinian told Sky Sports.
‘But then, alternatively, I don’t think we played thoroughly so there’s loads of things that we’d like to enhance.
‘Nevertheless it’s all the time nicer whenever you win.’
Asked if he understood the choice to disallow his initial goal, Mac Allister replied: ‘It did [hit my elbow] but I feel it was a bit harsh since it has hit my back as well so it’s a little bit of each.
‘I understand the principles, I just think that in football that’s very harsh. Nevertheless it was a good decision.
‘I believed we were going to get one other probability. Before a throw-in, I told Hugo [Ekitike] that this was going to be our goal, our situation.
‘I don’t know if it was on that one or the subsequent one, but I had one other opportunity and I’m glad that it went in.’
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Tottenham vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League latest rating and goal updates as Gyokeres restores lead
MORE: ‘Very telling’ – Jamie Carragher spots major warning sign for Arsenal in Premier League title race
MORE: Senne Lammens names the Manchester United legend he ‘resonates with’