Ngumoha stars as Liverpool come back to win thriller against Villarreal

Liverpool vs Villarreal. UEFA Champions League.

>Match report as Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 in a seven-goal Champions League thriller at Anfield with Alexis Mac Allister scoring twice and Rio Ngumoha starring. Andoni Iraola's side were two goals down inside 30 minutes but turned the game around

>Liverpool came from two goals down to defeat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield and make it three wins from three in this season’s Champions League.

>Two goals from Alexis Mac Allister and one apiece from Ronald Araujo and Florian Wirtz completed the turnaround, with Rio Ngumoha superb. All of it came after Virgil van Dijk's poor header allowed Georges Mikautadze to score in the fourth minute.

>It was the earliest that Liverpool had fallen behind at Anfield in a major European tie for a quarter of a century but worse was to come when Sergi Cardona raced through to finish off a slick move for the Spanish side's second, a deserved lead at that stage.

>But Mac Allister's header from Kostas Tsimikas' corner pulled one back and the lively Ngumoha then fashioned an equaliser when Araujo ghosted in at the far post with Cardona sleeping. It was hardly deserved but Liverpool were rampant after the break.

>The introduction of Wirtz undoubtedly helped but it was Ngumoha whose dancing feet opened up the Villarreal defence to set up Mac Allister for his second. Wirtz then made it four himself with a left-footed finish beyond Peter Gulacsi. His relief was palpable.

>Andoni Iraola will likely feel the same after Tani Oluwaseyi set up a nervous finish. Liverpool have conceded three goals in each of their last two Champions League games but won them both. It has not been entirely convincing but it is a third victory in a row.

>They played Rio by Duran Duran upon the final whistle at Anfield, so obvious was it that the winger had been the best player on the pitch. Mac Allister scored two, Wirtz had his big moment but for all the expensive signings on show, Rio Ngumoha was the standout.

>Ngumoha finished with two assists and seven successful dribbles. There were times when three Villarreal players were trying to stop him but it never deterred him and you always sensed that the teenager had the trickery and the talent to find a way through.

>It was a privilege to watch him play and impossible not to imagine what is ahead for him. "On the ball, this kid has so much quality," said Daniel Sturridge on Amazon Prime. "It is stuff you can't teach. What he does with the ball at his feet, it is God-given ability."

>There is more to learn, of course. He was partially culpable for Villarreal's second goal, failing to track a runner. But that was hardly a story on a night when Ngumoha lit up Anfield. Others are under scrutiny at Liverpool. He is just having the time of his life.

>4 - GOAL! Mikautadze seized on Van Dijk's poor header to score

>29 - GOAL! Cardona raced through to finish slick Villarreal move

>36 - GOAL! Mac Allister nodded in Tsimikas' right-wing corner

>45+2 - GOAL! Araujo ghosted in behind Cardona to level it up

>65 - GOAL! Mac Allister finished brilliant Ngumoha wing play

>68 - GOAL! Wirtz's low left-footed finish quickly made it four

>87 - GOAL! Oluwaseyi scored to set up a nervous Anfield finish

>Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola speaking in the press conference:

>"I think he was coming from a very good game the other day, he had a good second half against Brentford. Today he didn't have an easy game also because they were demanding him defensively and their left-back was attacking a lot.

>"There was a moment offensively where he was very difficult to stop. 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. He could go down for a penalty but he decides to continue which is a great decision.

>"Also endurance wise he is able to play more and more minutes. We were pushing him a little bit. He was tired but I think he has done a good effort and I'm very happy for him.

>"I am happy with his attitude because he is eager to improve things that we think he needs to improve. He is eager to add more things to his game.

>"He has been on the right lately, he is feeling more comfortable now, shooting on his left, he can add this to his game. 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."

>Villarreal head coach Inigo Perez speaking in the press conference:

>"The key moment was when they equalised to make it 2-2 just before half-time. We had a fantastic first half. But the mentality and emotion drops, theirs grows and it affects you, particularly at Anfield. But we still managed to stay in the game until the end.

>"Rio Ngumoha had a great game but many other players played well. There were emotions, there were goals. When you play at Anfield these things can happen. When a goal is scored here, you can feel the reaction.

>"But I don't think we were close to being hammered. I believe if we are able to correct simple details - but elite details - we would be able to win on these big stages."

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