Iraola urges Ngumoha to ignore external noise and focus on his game

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has urged Rio Ngumoha to ignore the growing hype and keep his focus firmly on his performances on the pitch. The 18-year-old was named Player of the Match after providing two assists in midweek Champions League victory over Villarreal, just days after coming off the bench to change the game against Brentford.

Ngumoha has been under the spotlight ever since swapping Chelsea's academy for Merseyside in 2024. While his trajectory has been on a steady rise since making his first-team debut in the FA Cup last January, the past few weeks have elevated him to another level.

Iraola is well aware of football's fickle nature and the potential pitfalls along the way, and is eager to keep the teenager's feet firmly on the ground.

"I think every player needs to focus on their performance, on continuing to deliver and improving areas where they can," he said.

"Outside noise, whether positive or negative, can have an impact, so we shouldn't let ourselves be swayed by it. Keep doing your job as best as you can, look to improve where possible, and don't get distracted by what you hear. When you do well, you get praised; when you do poorly, there is criticism. You can't let those things affect your performances, which is ultimately what matters most," the Reds boss added.