Liverpool finally got back to winning ways in the Premier League, with Mo Salah still adding to his Anfield legacy and Rio Ngumoha giving Arne Slot serious food for thought.
Liverpool 2-0 Fulham
Premier League (32) | Anfield
April 11, 2026
Goals: Ngumoha 36′, Salah 40′
Rio Ngumoha makes history as nostalgia feelings flare up
Every time teenage Rio Ngumoha gets handed an opportunity, he does not disappoint. We’re witnessing something truly special here – even in a lacklustre season for Liverpool, this lad is able to raise the collective performance levels from apathetic to frenetic.
With his stunning first-half effort, cutting inside in trademark fashion, he takes the title as the Reds’ youngest ever league goalscorer at Anfield aged 17 years and 225 days – surpassing Raheem Sterling, whose goal against Reading in October 2012, at 17 and 317 days, had stood since the Brendan Rodgers era.
And in seeing Ngumoha’s performance against the Cottagers, it’s hard not to note parallels with the Liverpool of back then.
The similarities with Ngumoha and Sterling are strikingly obvious, but that Reds team of 2012 had a legend coming towards the end, Steven Gerrard, and a magician-in-waiting with Philippe Coutinho. The Mo Salah and Florian Wirtz situation at present feels similar.
Liverpool are a much different team than back then, having won the lot. But history has a habit of repeating itself and, unlike what happened with Sterling, Ngumoha must now be made a focal point of the team for years to come.
Everything is possible with Mo Salah, even when the consistency wanes
Clearly smarting from his omission against PSG, it felt obvious that Salah was going to get on the scoresheet here and make an impression. It’s what he does.
The consistency of the Egyptian King has significantly declined this season, but when Liverpool really need him, he still manages to find the goods. Salah ran hard and looked highly focused in and out of possession, finding delicate through-balls and always showing himself as an option.
That he got among the goals alongside Ngumoha feels poetic, given the teenager is the next big thing at Anfield. Perhaps Arne Slot is now vindicated for resting Salah against PSG, but Liverpool’s living legend certainly won’t see it like that.
Florian Wirtz still cannot be unlocked in this Liverpool team
It’s painfully obvious that £110 million man Florian Wirtz hasn’t suddenly become an average footballer. Every time he goes away with Germany the masterclass begins – two goals and two assists in just one game during the last international break.
The 22-year-old is outrageously talented, and at such a tender age will only get better… but Liverpool still aren’t managing to get this same player that everyone is seeing wearing the white shirt under Julian Nagelsmann.
Confidence and familiarity play a huge role, but Wirtz still looks like a luxury player in this Liverpool XI, rather than the main man.
His substitution in the second half felt like a formality, which shouldn’t be the case. Wirtz is still a dangerous player to have on the pitch for Liverpool, but those in the world-class bracket stay on regardless.
Slot and Co. now seriously need to help the big-money signing reach that top level in the Premier League.
Taking on Anfield over ticket prices won’t end well
Pre-match spoke volumes. A flagless Kop and a very small percentage of red. Fenway CEO Billy Hogan was in attendance to see the gesture in person, as Liverpool fans played their opening hand in protesting the proposed three-year ticket price hikes.
It’s been a difficult, painful season anyway, and it feels like horrendously poor timing for the ownership to be in effect challenging the fanbase in this way.
Anfield is renowned around the world. Its atmosphere is pure, passionate and organic to a tee.
Liverpool supporters define being the ‘lifeblood’ of a football team, and if the powers that be inside FSG think this disquiet will be a one-off performance before the price rises are reluctantly accepted, they will be in for a rude awakening.
PSG squad dilemma is hardly solved
This was a vital win for Liverpool, and more important still to get all three points while comfortably looking like the better team.
But does it now give Slot a clear indication of who to line up against PSG? Arguably not. There will now be clamour for Ngumoha to start against the Parisians, yet the chances are slim.
For all the Man of the Match quality that the 17-year-old provided, he did on occasions in the first half lose the run of his opponent, allowing the overlapping Timothy Castagne to get in behind Andy Robertson.
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It is to be expected, the youngster is still learning and Liverpool need him at the offensive end of things – but to afford chances like that to PSG on Tuesday night will lead to certain goals.
Elsewhere, Alexander Isak still looks a shade off the pace, while Dominik Szoboszlai gave a muted performance back in front of the home fans following his pout-gate saga at the Etihad.
The Hungarian may well play much more advanced against PSG in the do-or-die clash, with both Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch having now benefited from a bit of rest in the legs.
Regardless, this victory still means Slot has lots of thinking to do before Liverpool’s biggest game of the season.