Virgil van Dijk shares Rio Ngumoha prediction after issuing daunting list of demands

Virgil van Dijk insists Liverpool wonderkid Rio Ngumoha has got all the ingredients to have a “fantastic career.” Van Dijk was full of praise for the 16-year-old’s mentality, determination and also his down-to-earth attitude which means he will be straight back into training after his moment of glory.

Ngumoha, who turns 17 on Friday, scored the 100th minute winner in Liverpool’s five goal thriller with Newcastle on Monday night. He is now Liverpool ’s youngest ever goalscorer.

That marked him down as the Premier League ’s latest whizz kid after 15-year-old Max Dowman made his debut for Arsenal in the Premier League last Saturday. It is now a young man’s game but it takes something special for even the best kids and prospects to progress into a team as good as Liverpool’s.

But Van Dijk says he has no doubts about teenage forward Ngumoha’s attributes after seeing him close up every day - and the way he took his moment of glory.

Liverpool captain van Dijk said: “Sixteen years old. Incredible. I'm very happy for him. It should motivate him even more to keep working each and every day and stay humble.

“He is in a good environment to progress. He has to look after himself and he has to learn from all of us, playing for so many years at the highest level, and take it on board and progress. That is a good target for him.

“I think if you make your Premier League debut at 16, scoring the winner, then that is a great sign of quality and being a special talent.

“But I also know you have to take it game by game. He has to keep working hard, make sure he is staying fit, progressing, take experience, and look at what others are doing and learn from that as well.

“We have very good personalities in our team and make sure that we are all in this together. We want them to progress and get better. It is down to him first and foremost but also us as a team.

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“It starts with mentality, of course. You have to have the right mindset. Nowadays, if you are a football player of the highest level, it takes much more than just playing on the pitch.

“You have to deal with a lot of things off the pitch as well. Mentally, physically, there are a lot of games. But it is a good start from him. He has to have the motivation to keep working and hopefully he will have a fantastic career.”

There does seem to be a trend in football of the kids getting younger for their debuts and goals. Dowman made his debut at 15 years and 234 days. And he is not even Arsenal’s youngest player as Ethan Nwaneri was younger and is also the Premier League’s youngest debutant.

That puts the likes of Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen - both teen stars in their time - into perspective. Van Dijk added: “We also have Trey Nyoni who also made his debut but it is still down to hard work and consistency, and improving each and every day, and let's see where it takes you. Rio should enjoy this, that is the first thing, and then he is back in training and working hard again.”

Meanwhile, van Dijk says he has spoken to Anthony Gordon who was sent off for Newcastle after VAR ruled he raked his studs down the Liverpool captain’s ankle.

There were no hard feelings, they shook hands after the game and van Dijk added: “There was no beef! It is part of the game, so we carry on.”

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