Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield after Ngumoha's two assists

The comeback

Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield on Tuesday, 20 October, in the third matchday of the Champions League league phase. Villarreal led 2-0 after Georges Mikautadze scored in the fourth minute and Sergi Cardona in the 29th minute, but Liverpool levelled before the interval through Alexis Mac Allister (36th minute) and Ronald Araujo (added time of the first half). Mac Allister scored again in the 65th minute and Florian Wirtz made it 4-2 in the 69th. Tani Oluwaseyi pulled one back for Villarreal in the 87th minute, but it was not enough. It was Villarreal's second defeat in the competition, and Liverpool, on a third successive win, moved up to second in the table behind Paris Saint-Germain.

Ngumoha's display

Rio Ngumoha, 18, was the most dangerous player on the right wing. He delivered the cross for Araujo's equaliser, then beat Sergi Cardona and played the pass for Mac Allister's second goal. Blick, citing Opta, reported that he became the third-youngest player in Champions League history to record at least two assists in one match, behind Warren Zaïre-Emery and Theo Walcott. He also completed seven successful dribbles, the second time he has managed that in the competition. Blick noted that only three other players have done it more than once as teenagers: Lamine Yamal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben.

Speaking to CBS Sports, Jamie Carragher praised the winger and urged Liverpool to agree a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2028.

He was brilliant, he was fantastic.

Ngumoha described the night in English to Prime: it was up there with one of the best games he has played, and he said the team had helped him a lot.

Reactions from the bench

Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez said his side had not handled the key phase just before half-time, when they were 2-0 up, and that any positive moment for the home side quickly lifted the Anfield crowd and players. Speaking to Movistar+, he praised the opponent:

They have a very high level, they play very well, they are a great team.

Pérez said he would have to be self-critical and that he was not reassured by his side's performances against Borussia Dortmund and in this match, both of which ended in defeat. He said both games should have been won, and that the focus should be on why they were not.

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola said Ngumoha had struggled defensively in the first half but was much better after the break. Iraola said that when Ngumoha is given one-on-one situations he makes plays and produces things for the team.

Shots and control

The match summary published by Europa Press credits Liverpool with 22 shots to Villarreal's 11, and it puts Liverpool's possession at 54%, against 46% for Villarreal.