Liverpool have a star in Rio Ngumoha — can Arne Slot trust him against PSG?

Even as eras draw to a close, others can start. If it is the beginning of the end for Mohamed Salah , it might be the beginning of something wonderful for Rio Ngumoha . Liverpool ’s scorers in defeating Fulham were 33 and 17, one almost double the age of the other, the older man soon to be the past, the younger boy looking very much the future.

“Not only the long future but also the near future,” said Slot. As the farewell to Salah grows nearer but the introduction to Ngumoha shows there should be life in the forward line after the legend. On Salah’s first appearance at Anfield since he announced his departure, he was serenaded almost from the off – Andy Robertson, another of Jurgen Klopp’s great team who is heading for the exit, was hailed first – and the Egyptian king earned a further rendition of his song with his 256th Liverpool goal.

Ngumoha’s was just his second. There are 254 between them. But then there has never been a bigger age gap between Liverpool goalscorers in a league game; the previous largest was between Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister.

The Merseysider was still playing when the Scot turned 50 and, likewise, Ngumoha should be when Salah enter his sixth decade. He became Liverpool’s youngest league goalscorer at Anfield, at 17 years and 225 days. Raheem Sterling lost a record as Ngumoha gained one.