Rio Ngumoha shows he's Liverpool's future - and could help Arne Slot keep his job

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Arne Slot got his teenage kicks from Rio Ngumoha, as Liverpool brushed aside Fulham to ease the pressure on their under-fire manager.

Ngumoah produced a special strike to become Liverpool's youngest ever league scorer at Anfield. Before the 17-year-old helped set-up a similar effort from Mo Salah , to help Liverpool cruise to a crucial win in their battle to secure Champions League football next season.

It remains to be seen if Slot is still the future at Anfield. But on this evidence, there is no doubting Ngumoha will be. Slot had headed into this crunch clash with the scrutiny mounting on him like never before. Liverpool had won just one of their last six outings in all competitions, and had lost three on the spin.

So Slot turned to Ngumoha and Salah by recalling them to the team, having left the duo sat on the bench for the miserable midweek defeat at Paris Saint Germain.

Andy Robertson was also recalled as part of five changes, having announced he would be leaving Anfield at the end of this season. Fulham, meanwhile, remained unchanged. And this felt as big a game for the visitors, as it did for the hosts.

A recent revival had reignited Fulham's own chances of securing European football, and a win here would see them move to within two points of Liverpool in the table. But it never looked like happening, thanks to Ngumoha and Salah. Slot's men made the brighter start, but it wasn't exactly illuminating Anfield.

Robertson had a shot blocked by Alex Iwobi, while Cody Gakpo saw an effort deflected behind for a corner. Moments later Salah had a snapshot well saved by Bernd Leno down to his right. At least Liverpool had had a shot on target, something they failed to manage in the French capital. Gakpo then dragged an effort just wide as Liverpool continued to knock on the door.

But despite all the huffing a puffing to pin Fulham deep inside their own half, the home side couldn't blow the visitor's house down. And when Fulham decided to wake up, they looked threatening. Iwobi shot straight at Giorgi Mamardashvili, who also kept out an effort from Oscar Bobb. While Harry Wilson curled a strike just over the crossbar.

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But in a flash, Slot's side took complete control of the game with two wonderful goals in just four minutes before half time. Strikes which lent themselves to the present and the past. Ngumoha ended the tedium with a stunning effort. The precocious youngster cut in from the right, before curling a delightful shot past Leno and into the far corner.

Moments later Ngumoha had a hand in setting up his side's second goal, when Salah caressed a sublime finish into the opposite corner. It was his 256th goal in all competitions for Liverpool, and a fitting parting gift before he heads elsewhere this summer. Not to mention a reminder of what Liverpool will be missing. The two moments of magic had changed the mood inside Anfield completely.

In a break with recent tradition, Liverpool resembled thoroughbreds once again. Which felt fitting on Grand National weekend. It felt like the rest of the game was about damage limitation for Fulham.

Gakpo should have added a third, while Florian Wirtz volleyed wide from close range as Fulham threatened to crumble. Ngumoha was continuing to enjoy himself while giving Fulham constant fits, and shot straight at Leno as the home attacks continued. He left the field to a standing ovation with 22 minutes remaining. And the chances are, it will be the first of many.

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