Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has urged Rio Ngumoha to ignore increased attention he is receiving and focus on his performances on the pitch.
The 18-year-old was man of the match after providing two assists in the midweek Champions League victory over Villarreal, just days after coming off the bench to change the game at Brentford.
Ngumoha has been in the spotlight ever since his move from Chelsea’s academy in 2024 and while his career has been on an upward trajectory since making his first-team debut in the FA Cup in January last year the last few weeks have seen him elevated to another level.
Iraola is aware the fickle nature of football means there are likely to be some pitfalls along the way and he is trying to keep the teenager’s feet on the ground.
“I think every player has to focus on performances, on keeping doing well and improving the things he can improve,” he said.
“The outside noise, when it’s good, when it’s bad, I think it affects – obviously – but we have to therefore not be affected by those things.
“You continue to do your job, as good as you can, try to improve the things you can improve and don’t be too affected from the things you can hear.
“When you do well they are going to praise you, when you do bad there are going to be critics but don’t let those things affect too much the performance, which in the end is the most important thing.”
Ngumoha’s growing importance to the team this season has been helped by the presence of fellow academy graduates Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas, who have also enjoyed plenty of game time already as the head coach tries to manage the minutes of some of his more experienced players.
“I think they (younger players) are supporting each other. You can feel it straight away, even in pre-season, the ones who played the games, you could feel after their performances they were looking at each other and praising each other,” added Iraola ahead of the visit of high-flying Brighton.
“When they see one of them getting a start in the Champions League or getting a start in the Premier League, maybe it’s not themselves, but they feel it like, ‘OK, I’m close to being there’.
“I think it’s something that is going to be good for them, also good for the ones that are now in the second team, looking and playing with them and for sure they are texting them and they are sending messages. I think this is a good feeling.
“I think they (also) have to use all the help from the coaches and from the players. They are lucky now that we have good references.
“I suppose every defender goes to Virgil (van Dijk) and whatever Virgil says…I think you have to take it and consider it and learn from that.
“With Alex (Isak) and with every experienced player that we have, I think they have to get what they (can from) seeing training: how they act, what they do, and also what they can advise them.”