Arne Slot drops Rio Ngumoha hint ahead of Liverpool's clash against Tottenham Hotspur

Arne Slot insists that Rio Ngumoha is in his Liverpool thinking to be handed a full Premier League debut.

The 17-year-old has made hurtling progress this season. He’s been a bona fide member of the first-team squad and made 18 appearances in total.

In last week’s 3-1 win over Wolves in the FA Cup fifth round, Ngumoha was handed a starting spot and was named man of the match. He understandably was dropped back to the bench for the 1-0 loss to Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.

But with 16th-placed Tottenham Hotspur visiting Anfield on Sunday, there are sections of supporters who would like to see Ngumoha feature from the outset.

Liverpool have been treating Ngumoha cautiously throughout the campaign given his tender age. But with the Reds having a busy week ahead, with Galatasaray visiting Anfield on Wednesday in the last 16 second leg before a trip to Brighton on Saturday 21 March, Slot says he will make full use of his squad - suggesting there will be game-time for Ngumoha.

The Liverpool head coach said at his pre-match press conference: "We have treated him carefully. He cannot be too many days in a row on the pitch because of stress fractures. Players of this age sometimes have, and have had at this club. Jayden Danns is one of the examples of that.

"Rio is a player who could start for us. I think I said a month ago that he would get more playing time and we have all seen that, coming in for a longer spell of time and starting against Wolves. He is definitely an option to start in one of the upcoming three games because for the fifth time this season, we have to play three games in seven days.

“That means you need more than 11 players and, of course, the midweek game can be longer than the 90 that we experienced last season. So playing three games in seven days, every player has a chance to play or start."