Just days after Arne Slot emphasized the crucial role of attackers, Liverpool’s promising young forward took the stage.
Rio Ngumoha netted two goals in a draw against Aston Villa for Liverpool’s Under-23 team on Saturday.
The second of his goals on Saturday was notably a product of the efforts of another young Liverpool star, Keyrol Figueroa.
While perhaps not as celebrated as Ngumoha or Trey Nyoni, Figueroa is determined to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Sturridge and establish himself as a well-rounded center-forward at the senior level.
Keyrol Figueroa Executes Liverpool Boss Arne Slot’s Vision
Slot highlighted the need for a Liverpool striker to do more than just score, stating his expectations before the victory over Leicester City. With the team searching for a new center-forward — Darwin Nunez is anticipated to leave for Saudi Arabia — Slot seeks someone who not only scores reliably but also presses effectively to create opportunities.
Figueroa’s determination was evident when he seized on a mistake made by Aston Villa goalkeeper Oliwier Zych. He quickly intercepted a misplaced pass intended for a Villa defender and set up Ngumoha’s second goal with a brilliant backheel assist.
With both tenacity and finesse demonstrated in that play, Figueroa recorded his first assist of the season in Premier League 2. However, it remains to be seen if he can enhance his skills to add a more ruthless edge to his game, as evidenced by his father’s unpredictability on the field.
Figueroa Compared to Victor Osimhen with Pressing Strengths
Figueroa has previously shown his strong off-the-ball intelligence and work ethic, factors that contributed to his success in the final third. Goal has noted that his pressing ability, akin to that of Liverpool-target Victor Osimhen, has led him to score several goals at the Under-18 level through diligent work and interceptions.
With his potential yet to be fully realized, if Figueroa can transform that potential into tangible results, he could find himself a part of Slot’s plans as pre-season approaches.
In Slot’s own words: “The straightforward expectation for a forward is to score goals. However, in today’s football, a number nine must contribute to an intense pressing game. If you look at semi-final teams in the Champions League, every player puts in maximum effort. I expect our number nine to be part of that pressing team. Ultimately, scoring goals is also essential for Liverpool’s number nine.”
