Liverpool eased some recent pressure with a controlled 2-0 win over Fulham at Anfield, as Andy Robertson enjoyed a rare Premier League start during what will be a long goodbye, while Rio Ngumoha and Mohamed Salah supplied first-half goals that kept Arne Slot’s team on track after defeats to Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain.
Robertson had already confirmed on Friday that this will be the final season at Liverpool, and Salah previously announced that this campaign will also be the last, leaving supporters to process the departure of two major figures from the Jurgen Klopp era and the title success achieved under Slot last season as a significant squad reshaping begins.
The Scotland international started ahead of Milos Kerkez at left-back against Fulham, making the 374th Liverpool appearance, which is a notable total for a player who has mostly been used as cover this season, and Robertson intends to treat every remaining chance on the pitch as a moment to appreciate after nine years at Anfield.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, Robertson said: “I knew my song would get sung a couple of times. This club means everything to me, that’s a fact. I’ve been here for nine years. I was a boy at one time. I’ve become a man here. This club’s made me into who I am now, and I owe them a lot. I’m just going to try and enjoy and embrace every minute I’m at this football club. When I get a start, I just try to enjoy it.”
While Robertson and Salah near the exit, Ngumoha offered a glimpse of Liverpool’s next generation, becoming the third-youngest player to both start and score in a Premier League match, at 17 years and 225 days, a mark bettered only by Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas at younger ages in the competition’s history.
Ngumoha’s strike, a precise curling finish after turning Timothy Castagne inside the penalty area, also set a new Liverpool benchmark at Anfield, as the teenager replaced Raheem Sterling as the club’s youngest Premier League scorer at the stadium, surpassing Sterling’s goal at 17 years and 317 days against Reading in October 2012.
Liverpool veterans praise Ngumoha after Fulham Premier League win
Robertson highlighted the contribution from the academy talent and the broader potential within Liverpool’s youth ranks, stressing that continued development from players like Ngumoha can soften the impact of big-name departures and maintain competitive standards as the club navigates the next phase under Slot’s leadership.
On Ngumoha, Robertson said: “He’s unbelievable. It just shows you sometimes shouldn’t listen to the experienced players! I was screaming to say I was coming on the overlap! Then he just goes and cuts inside, it’s a great finish, a great performance by him. He just keeps learning and listening, he’s such a good kid. Him and Trey [Nyoni] are a pleasure to work with and they listen to all the lads. You can just see them improving all the time. He’s got a big future ahead of him, but the here and now is pretty good as well.”
Ngumoha described the goal and the faith shown by Slot and senior Liverpool teammates as a major step in a very early stage of the career, stressing that the focus must remain on training levels and performances despite the rapid rise and growing attention after scoring in such a significant home fixture.
Ngumoha said: “It was a special goal. Robbo created space for me, so I just cut inside and aimed for the corner. Liverpool, for me, are the biggest club in the world, and to start so young with the manager and all the players having belief in me… I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
The Fulham victory therefore carried a dual meaning for Liverpool, easing the response to recent European and domestic setbacks while allowing supporters to celebrate Robertson and Salah during the final months, and at the same time watch Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni gain valuable experience that underlines how a new core could emerge at Anfield.