Rio Ngumoha inspired Liverpool to a dramatic 4-3 comeback against Villarreal at Anfield, helping Andoni Iraola’s side maintain their perfect start with a third Champions League win from three matches.
The 18-year-old winger supplied two assists and tormented the Villarreal defence, emerging as the outstanding player on a night when Liverpool recovered from two goals down.
Villarreal took the lead in the fourth minute after Virgil van Dijk’s poor header fell to Georges Mikautadze, who finished at the earliest point Liverpool had conceded in a major European tie at Anfield for 25 years.
The visitors doubled their advantage in the 29th minute. Sergi Cardona raced through at the end of a slick move to give Villarreal a deserved lead after a difficult opening half for the hosts.
Alexis Mac Allister began the revival with a 36th-minute header from Kostas Tsimikas’s corner. Liverpool then drew level in first-half stoppage time when Ronald Araujo arrived unmarked at the far post, with Ngumoha instrumental in creating the opportunity.
Ngumoha continued to cause problems after the interval, repeatedly taking on defenders and opening gaps in the Villarreal back line. His decisive contribution came when he created the space for Mac Allister to score his second in the 65th minute.
Florian Wirtz, introduced from the substitutes’ bench, added a fourth three minutes later with a low left-footed finish beyond Peter Gulacsi. Villarreal substitute Tani Oluwaseyi reduced the deficit in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finish, but Liverpool held on.
Ngumoha earns praise after Liverpool comeback
Ngumoha completed seven successful dribbles and was the focal point of Liverpool’s attacking threat. The teenager said the match was “up there with one of the best I’ve played” and added: “I enjoyed myself out there.”
Former Liverpool player Daniel Sturridge praised the winger’s ability, saying: “On the ball, this kid has so much quality. It is stuff you can’t teach. What he does with the ball at his feet, it is God-given ability.”
Iraola said Ngumoha had been difficult for Villarreal to contain, particularly when isolated against a defender.
“There was a moment offensively where he was very difficult to stop,” he said. “If we can put Rio in situations one against one, he makes plays, he produces things, today the assist for Alexis is a lovely play.”
The Liverpool manager also noted that Ngumoha was still developing and had more to add to his game, despite his impact in the comeback.
“He is only 18, still not the full package and it is not always going to be like this, there will be ups and downs in the process,” Iraola said.
Villarreal head coach Inigo Perez identified Liverpool’s equaliser just before half-time as the turning point. He said his side had produced a “fantastic first half”, but that the emotional balance shifted once Liverpool levelled.
“The mentality and emotion drops, theirs grows and it affects you, particularly at Anfield,” Perez said. “But we still managed to stay in the game until the end.”
The result extended Liverpool’s run of Champions League victories to three, although they have conceded three goals in each of their last two matches in the competition.
