A 17-year-old prodigy stands on the brink of achieving the unimaginable at Liverpool.

Rio Ngumoha faces the chance to become Liverpool’s youngest player to score in the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool will return to Anfield this midweek for the third round of the Carabao Cup, hosting Southampton with the aim of advancing and boosting their season’s momentum. This is not just a typical knockout match but carries historic significance both for the team and individual players.

The highlight of the match goes beyond team achievements. All eyes are on 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who is poised to make history. If he scores, Ngumoha will become Liverpool’s youngest Carabao Cup goal scorer at 17 years and 25 days old.

This would break the previous record set by Ben Woodburn by 20 days. This prospect excites fans greatly, as the Carabao Cup has long been regarded as a launchpad for young talents from the Merseyside club.

The head-to-head record fully favors the Anfield hosts. Liverpool have won their last eight consecutive home matches against Southampton, while the visitors’ last positive result was a 0-0 draw in May 2017. Scoring in the upcoming match would mark Liverpool’s 200th goal against Southampton in their history, a figure that demonstrates near-total dominance.

Past encounters also promise intriguing scenarios. In the last four occasions Liverpool eliminated Southampton from the Carabao Cup, they advanced to the final. However, only in 2003 in Cardiff did they claim the trophy; the other finals ended in painful defeats at Wembley in 1987, 2016, and most recently in 2025.

Other historic milestones also cast a shadow over this clash. Exactly 39 years ago, Liverpool thrashed Fulham 10-0 at Anfield, equaling the record for the biggest win in the competition. Conversely, Southampton proudly hold the distinction of being the first team to knock Liverpool out of the League Cup, winning 2-1 at Anfield in 1960.

The visitors come to Anfield riding two consecutive wins against Northampton Town and Norwich City without conceding a goal. They also bring a new face to the coaching bench: Will Still, who follows a line of managers that have led Southampton on recent away trips, including Ivan Juric, Russell Martin, Nathan Jones, and Ralph Hasenhuttl.

For Liverpool, this season’s Carabao Cup remains an opportunity to assert their status and a stage for young talents like Rio Ngumoha to write a new chapter in the club’s history. Thus, the match against Southampton carries more significance than just a ticket to the next round.