Liverpool supporters serenaded Rio Ngumoha with chants of “Rio, Rio” after the teenage winger set up Alexis Mac Allister's goal in a thrilling Champions League comeback victory over Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
Mac Allister had just capped the Reds' revival by smashing home from close range in front of the Kop midway through the second half, but it was Ngumoha's name that instantly echoed around the stadium rather than the Argentina international's.
Ngumoha's standout display
Found on the right wing by a searching pass from Mac Allister, Ngumoha proceeded to run the Villarreal defence ragged for much of his 74-minute outing. He thrust past one player into the penalty area, evaded two others and reached the byline, from where his cutback set up Mac Allister for the finish.
The 18-year-old produced a similar moment at the end of the first half, recycling possession from a partially cleared corner, keeping the ball on the edge of the area and digging out a cross that Ronald Araujo headed home at the far post.
Rising contract pressure
Before this game, Ngumoha had only one assist in his senior career, making his contributions all the more remarkable. He was the one shining light in a reshaped attack that misfired badly during an alarming opening half-hour in which Liverpool fell two goals behind.
This was only his third Champions League start, all coming in this season's competition, and it built on his impressive showing against LASK last week and his cameo from the bench in the Premier League win at Brentford at the weekend. The pressure on the Reds to agree a new contract with the winger increases with every display like this.
Standing ovation and celebrations
Mac Allister's name was eventually chanted by the Kop, but even the midfielder would have been happy to cede centre stage to Ngumoha, who received a standing ovation on his substitution. As the full-time whistle sounded, the Anfield PA system blared out Duran Duran's 1980s hit Rio, capping an evening where Liverpool's teenage sensation was very much on song.
