(Video) Rio Ngumoha nets show-stopping goal in 7-goal thriller after … — and more

Rio Ngumoha was controversially denied a fairytale moment at Anfield on Saturday night, but nothing and no-one was going to stop him from making a show-stopping impact less than 24 hours later.

The 17-year-old came off the bench for Liverpool’s first team in their 3-0 victory over Brighton in the FA Cup and momentarily thought he’d scored in front of the Kop when firing past Jason Steele, but unfortunately the goal was disallowed for offside.

Replays showed that it should have stood, and VAR wasn’t in operation to correct the error, and Arne Slot voiced his disagreement with the decision in his post-match press conference, although the teenage prodigy didn’t dwell on the disappointment for long.

Ngumoha scores worldie for Liverpool under-21s

On Sunday afternoon, Ngumoha lined out for the Reds’ under-21s against their West Brom counterparts in Premier League 2, and the goal that he scored to put his team 3-2 ahead shortly before half-time was a thing of beauty.

Collecting a ball on the left flank from a Trey Nyoni pass, he surged into the penalty area and jinked past two opponents before crashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the visitors’ net, and there was nothing in the slightest to prevent that magnificent strike from counting on the scoreboard.

It proved to be a significant moment too, as Rob Page’s side eventually won 4-3 (via liverpoolfc.com).

Image via @cnsultra on X

Ngumoha already looks like an elite talent

With the greatest of respect to the under-21s, even a hat-trick yesterday wouldn’t have meant as much for Ngumoha as a goal in front of the Kop in a competitive fixture only a few months after turning 17.

Nonetheless, what happened on Saturday night takes nothing away from the excellent of the strike that he produced in the victory over West Brom, and any minutes that he can get on the pitch at any level will stand to the teenager as he embarks on what has the makings of being an elite career.

It isn’t his first time double-jobbing on the same weekend, either – he followed up his outing off the bench in our 3-2 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth last month with by lining out for the under-21s against Leeds the very next day.

Ngumoha has already shown glimpses of his outrageous talent at senior level, displaying a confidence and dribbling ability which belies his tender years, and there have been calls for Slot to play him more regularly.

There has been an understandable reluctance from the first-team head coach to expose the winger too much at such a sensitive stage in his footballing development, but everything we’ve seen of the 17-year-old so far suggests that he’s taking that biggest of leaps in his stride.

You can view Ngumoha’s goal for Liverpool’s under-21s below, via thelfcacademy on Instagram:

 

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Competition between sports broadcasters is serious business.

Purchasing the rights to show tournaments and leagues on television can be very expensive, and with (hopefully) plenty of viewers watching at home, quality of coverage must be top-notch to avoid being pilloried by fans and outdone by rivals.

But that does not mean broadcasters cannot admire - and even celebrate - the work of their peers.

Football fans were pleasantly surprised to see that BBC Alba's brand new coverage of Italy's Serie A - appearing on free-to-air TV in the UK for the first time since 2008 - brought the back the theme tune and graphics from Gazzetta Football Italia, the hugely popular Italian football show broadcast by Channel 4 between 1992 and 2002.

So, how exactly did the retro throwback come about, and what is the thinking behind it?

'It was a no-brainer to bring it back'

When BBC Alba struck the deal for its Serie A rights - eight games featuring Scottish players before the nation's return to the World Cup this summer - staff in Scotland worked with colleagues at production company Sunset Vine to build a plan for the best coverage possible.

They decided that bringing back the iconic intro, complete with the cry of 'Golazo' at the end of the theme tune, was the best approach.

When the title sequence played before kick-off between Bologna and Torino on Sunday evening, it was met with a hugely popular reception online.

"It was a no-brainer to bring back the branding - we would have done people a disservice if we hadn't thought about it," said Margaret Cameron, director of content at Alba.

"It was a very deliberate choice to put out a well-timed nostalgia bomb."

The next fixture chosen for broadcast is Atalanta v Napoli (14:00 GMT) on Sunday, 22 February - viewers can watch on BBC Alba in Scotland and BBC iPlayer across the UK.

Neil Paterson, commercial, rights and business affairs manager at the BBC, said: "I'm 42, so I loved the Channel 4 show and wanted it to be a nod to that.

"The BBC has blanket music agreements with a company called BMG, and the theme song was included in that, so it was pretty straightforward.

"I get on well with Channel 4's head of sport, so it was a case of calling them as a courtesy to let them know what we were planning. They were really pleased and excited about it."

Seven Scottish players, including Napoli's Ballon d'Or nominee Scott McTominay, are playing in Serie A this season.

"We became aware towards the end of last season that DAZN, which owns the UK rights for Serie A, were willing to sublet some international rights," said Cameron.

"We have been thinking about this since then because we want to capitalise on what is a really big moment in Scottish sporting history - going back to the World Cup with some great players who are playing in one of Europe's best leagues."

While some broadcasters buy TV rights in order to sell subscriptions to sports packages and advertising slots, the BBC does so in order to offer licence-fee payers the best value for money.

BBC Alba is a partnership between the BBC and MG Alba, meaning the channel's output is funded by both the licence fee and the Scottish government. It broadcasts content in Gaelic, with co-commentary on Serie A matches featuring both Gaelic and English.

"Sport is really important to us. It's a good way to tap in to audiences in Scotland that are underserved and offer them something which is normally behind a paywall," said Cameron.

"Our opportunities to draw big attention online can be quite limited, so we have to be aware of picking the eight games as smartly as possible. The first match performed well."

The theme song is a remix of 1992 dance anthem I'm Stronger Now by Definitive Two with added football lingo and commentary.

Social media posts about the title sequence generated thousands of interactions online.

"It's been really nice to see the big, positive reaction", said Grant Philips, executive producer at Sunset+Vine, which works with BBC Alba on projects across many sports.

"It evokes all those memories so many people have from back then."

"Yesterday's match was up against the Winter Olympics, Rangers playing Hearts, Celtic away at Kilmarnock, and the FA Cup in England, so seeing it get the attention it has is great and will hopefully mean more people know about it."

Why was Gazzetta Football Italia so popular?

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Serie A was the world's leading football league. Its clubs spent the most money, boasted the best players and attracted the attention of fans around the globe.

While the likes of Roberto Baggio, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane were powering their teams to glory and winning the Ballon d'Or, UK football fans were dazzled by them on Gazzetta Football Italia.

The programme featured live coverage of matches presented by broadcaster James Richardson, whose intellectual and elegant approach was a hit.

"I still meet people who used to watch it, and they have such nice things to say about it - how much they enjoyed watching," Richardson told World Football Index last year.

"They used to look forward to watching it, and I'm really touched when they tell me that. I feel really lucky to be involved in something like that. If people remember me as a nice guy that they enjoyed hearing from, then that would be terrific."

ESPN has outlined a trade package that would move Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown to the Denver Broncos for cornerback Riley Moss, a 2026 second-round pick, and a 2027 fifth-round pick. The Broncos would also receive a 2026 fifth-round pick in return.

Brown’s 2025 season was his lowest per‑game efficiency since his final year with the Titans, and he faced on‑ and off‑field frustrations, including a playoff loss where he dropped passes and argued with coach Nick Sirianni. Eagles GM Mike Roseman has downplayed a trade, citing a $43.5 million dead‑money hit if Brown is moved before June 1 and concerns about losing value at the lowest point of his career.

The 2026 NFL Draft continues to get closer with each passing day and with the Chicago Bears in an unfamiliar position picking much later in the first round than recent history. Slated to pick at No. 25 overall in the first round, the Bears will have an opportunity to address some pressing needs, specifically in the trenches and defensive secondary.

Chicago has continued to use a well-mixed combination of a youth movement while bringing in veterans in places most needing leadership, as they did with the offensive line this year. The Bears could be facing several big losses due to free agency this offseason, and the upcoming draft will provide a great opportunity for them to keep their core together while filling vacant areas.

Here's our first Bears 7-round mock draft looking at where Chicago could apply their focus to upgrading their roster this offseason.

Round 1, Pick 25: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

This will be a repeated selection for Chicago, as Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is one player in the 2026 class that is going to ascend into the spotlight sooner than later. A physical playmaker who would fit very well in Dennis Allen's defense, McNeil-Warren would have a very good chance to be a Week 1 starter.

Round 2, Pick 57: Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati

A big time stopper in the run game during his college career, Dontay Corelone is exactly what the Bears need on the interior of their defensive line. Corelone could be just a rotational piece, or depending on what else Chicago does in the draft and free agency, he could help open up plenty for others on the defensive line.

Round 3, Pick 89: Gennings Dunker, OT, Iowa

The Big 10 knows how to build offensive linemen, and Gennings Dunker (with a name that sounds like a NFL offensive lineman), has exactly what the Bears need: versatility. At Iowa, Dunker played at right tackle and at inside guard spots, which could allow for Ben Johnson to move around other members as they look for an answer at the left tackle spot with Ozzy Trapilo sidelined. Dunker was First-team All-Big 10 this past season and has a motor that builds his relentless and nasty blocking style.

Round 4, Pick 129: Xavier Scott, CB, Illinois

Another versatile player who would fit on the roster to take on multiple roles in the defensive secondary, Xavier Scott elevated his draft stock by returning for this past college season. He's known for being a playmaker who excels in tackling and could be a value pick to contribute on both defense and special teams.

Round 5, Pick 163: Jalon Kilgore, CB, South Carolina

At 6'1, Jalon Kilgore could be play a hybrid defensive back position that also finds some time at the linebacker position, who has great athleticism. His long arms and physicality is a theme for what the Bears could need in their secondary, which could be the biggest area of weakness depending on who decides to move on this offseason.

Round 7, Pick 239: Jakari Foster, S, Louisiana Tech

One of the most underrated players in this year's draft, Jakari Foster lead the NCAA in interceptions this year and is the pure definition of a ballhawk. Foster may have to work to find his place on the field, but as was seen in the 2025 season, if a palyer is ready to play and rising to the occasion, they'll be on the field. Foster could also be a big contributor on special teams.

Round 7, Pick 241: Riley Mahlman, OT, Wisconsin

Back to the Big 10 for another opportunity to find reinforcements for the offensive line. A very big unit at 6'8", 320-pounds, Riley Mahlman has size and strength that can't be taught, but he'll definitely be a work in progress that Ben Johnson could have fun with. Mahlman projects at right tackle which would be great insurance behind Darnell Wright.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 7-round mock draft: Chicago addresses massive needs on defense