Rio Ngumoha breaks Liverpool record and is a major England threat to Bukayo Saka

Rio Ngumoha dazzled for Liverpool in their 4-3 victory over Villarreal – and Bukayo Saka should be worried about his England spot. It’s a suggestion made by Jason Cundy after the teenager picked up two assists in the Champions League thriller at Anfield on Tuesday. Player-of-the-match Ngumoha provided for Ronald Araujo with a floating cross and then teed up Alexis Mac Allister as Liverpool came from behind to win their third European match of the season. The teenager has started in all of their Champions League ties and is becoming an integral part of Andoni Iraola’s squad, with a new deal also a possibility . He featured in England’s pre-World Cup training camp, and made his debut during the 1-0 friendly win over New Zealand. Thomas Tuchel did not select him as part of his final 26-man squad but, with Euro 2028 the next major tournament, and Cundy believes the starlet is capable of battling Saka for a starting spot on the right. Ngumoha v Saka for England starting role When asked if Ngumoha should play right-wing for England , Cundy said on The Sports Bar : “After that performance, you have to be seriously looking at him. He was involved in the last squad. Cundy added: “He has caught the eye. Every time he plays, he catches the eye. And there are very few players that can do that at his age. But the thing that he’s got, he has the ability because he’s so young. “There’s no fear of failure. You get this with young players. They don’t know what it’s like. Failure doesn’t exist in their lives. They’ve always been the best. “They just go out and just go and showcase what you’ve got. Go on, do a step over. Who cares if I get it? And more often than not, because he’s so full of confidence… “There will be a moment in his career where there will be a dip, he will drop in form. It inevitably happens with most young kids but wow, what a performance, what a player.” Cundy then claimed that Saka, who is the consistent starter at right-wing for England, may be wary of Ngumoha’s rise as he said: “Saka’s had a lot of injuries, but he’s England’s starter right now in England’s best team. “But, when you’re watching young players come through, and even though Saka’s still got to reach the peak of his powers… “When you’re looking over your shoulder, you’re going, ‘Wow, this kid has got something’. Liverpool fans should be very excited, England fans should be very excited.” Ngumoha with a record-breaking display Ngumoha and Barcelona star Lamine Yamal are the only two teens in this season’s Champions League to bag two assists in one match. The cross for Araujo also made Ngumoha the youngest ever player to score or assist in the competition for Liverpool, doing so aged 18 years and 52 days. In addition, he is the third-youngest Englishman to provide an assist after Jude Bellingham, Lewis Miley and Theo Walcott. Ngumoha has now made seven Champions League appearances for Liverpool, although he is still waiting for his first competition goal. “Tonight is up there with one of the best I’ve played I think,” he said in his post-match interview with Amazon Prime. “I enjoyed myself out there, the team helped me a lot… “Whenever I get the ball and have the opportunity to go one v one, or sometimes two v one, I’ll by all means go for it. “I believe in myself to do that and the more chances we get the more we can worry the opposition and be ruthless.” Ngumoha added: “To hear my name being chanted by the crowd is a dream. We have the best fans in the world.”