![\"\"](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Steven-Gerrard-cdf8.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
\t<\/div>Steven Gerrard has urged Arne Slot to play Rio Ngumoha ahead of Cody Gakpo after Liverpool\u2019s 2-1 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n
Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves ahead at Molineux before Mohamed Salah pulled Slot\u2019s side level with seven minutes remaining. However, Rob Edwards\u2019 side registered only their third Premier League win this season with Andre\u2019s goal in injury time.<\/p>\n
The result leaves Liverpool fifth in the Premier League but they will be overtaken by Chelsea if they win away to Aston Villa on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Gakpo started on Liverpool\u2019s left flank but Gerrard believes 17-year-old Ngumoha, who came on as a substitute against Wolves, should now replace the Dutchman for Friday\u2019s FA Cup tie against Wolves.<\/p>\n
\u2018For 65 minutes Liverpool were desperate tonight, really poor, didn\u2019t create enough, didn\u2019t play at the right speed or the right tempo, didn\u2019t have enough quality,\u2019 Gerrard told TNT Sports.<\/p>\n \u2018He has to start Ngumoha now. He has to start him because he\u2019s coming on and he\u2019s doing more in a short cameo in a short space of time than Gakpo\u2019s doing in 65, 70 minutes.<\/p>\n Metro<\/strong>‘s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week’s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n Sign up here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n \u2018He deserves to start now. He\u2019s got to start the kid on Friday night [in the FA Cup].\u2019<\/p>\n Gerrard also described Liverpool\u2019s first-half display against Wolves as a \u2018complete waste\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018The three targets are going to be securing top four again for Champions League for next season and trying to go all the way in the other two competitions,\u2019 Gerrard said.<\/p>\n \u2018The first half [against Wolves] was a complete waste from a Liverpool point of view. No urgency, no ball speed change when you got into the final third of the pitch, there wasn\u2019t much quality or penetration.<\/p>\n \u2018The other thing is they\u2019ve got to stop conceding really poor goals. It was a basic ball up to a target man, a focal point, you\u2019ve got a two versus one that\u2019s got to be dealt with then you\u2019ve got the chance to make a last-ditch tackle that they don\u2019t make.<\/p>\n \u2018Then the second goal is a poor clearance from the goalkeeper and there\u2019s no reaction. Liverpool have got three players around that could\u2019ve reacted a lot quicker to stop it before it becomes a shot on goal. They\u2019re two really poor goals. If they want to progress in the FA Cup, they have to defend a lot better, they can\u2019t just blame, \u2018oh, we didn\u2019t create enough in the final third\u2019, you\u2019ve got to stop conceding goals the other way.<\/p>\n \u2018They\u2019re much improved lately, they\u2019ve missed a big opportunity tonight.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on ![\"WOLVERHAMPTON,](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/SEI_287725155-745d.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
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