Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha announced himself to the Champions League as Liverpool extended their 100 per cent record the hard way, coming from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3.
A night that began terribly with a Virgil van Dijk mistake ended with plenty of positives for the hosts, as 18-year-old Ngumoha took the starring role. Alexis Mac Allister scored twice, and Florian Wirtz grabbed his first since April.
Ngumoha Shines After Difficult Start
Andoni Iraola's team are establishing themselves as Europe's great entertainers. After six goals at LASK last week, another four left them behind only Paris St Germain in the table and as the competition's top scorers.
Having changed the game as a second-half substitute at Brentford on Saturday, Ngumoha returned to the starting line-up as one of six changes after another injury denied them Victor Munoz.
But in a chastening first half-hour, the 18-year-old was not immune from the malaise affecting the team. After Van Dijk headed into the path of Georges Mikautadze for the opener, Ngumoha failed to track his runner, allowing Sergi Cardona to double the lead.
Second-Half Turnaround
After that, Ngumoha proceeded to make Villarreal's left-back's life a misery with a captivating performance of pacy dribbling. He crossed for Ronald Araujo to equalise on the stroke of half-time, the on-loan Barcelona defender disappearing into the front row of the Anfield Road stand where he was mobbed by fans, after Mac Allister's flicked header had reduced the deficit.
Ngumoha returned even more threatening after the break, and from one of a number of attacking drives which tormented Cardona, Mac Allister rammed home from close range. Anfield hailed the youngster's mercurial talent, and he departed to a 74th-minute standing ovation, with Duran Duran's 'Rio' played at the final whistle.
Ngumoha's pace has a significant part to fulfil in Iraola's game plan, which still needs some work judging by the holes picked in their defence by the visitors.
Defensive Frailties and Late Drama
It was a mistake by Van Dijk which started it all, directing a looping header away from Alisson Becker with Mikautadze seizing on the loose ball to shoot across the goalkeeper. Van Dijk put his head in his hands, but things did not get much better when he passed to Tajon Buchanan, only to be let off when Mikautadze's cross on the break failed to pick out a team-mate.
Ngumoha's attacking ability is not in doubt, but his game awareness needs some work, and when he failed to track his man, Cardona ran on to make it 2-0. The stunned hosts finally found their spark with Mac Allister's near-post header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner, with another set-piece leading to the equaliser as Ngumoha recycled the ball to the far post for Araujo to enhance his cult status.
Wirtz replaced Araujo for the second half, with Ryan Gravenberch dropping back from number 10 to right-back, as Liverpool went through the gears. Trey Nyoni, who put in a commanding performance at the base of midfield, drove wide before Ngumoha teed up Mac Allister.
Wirtz, who continues to enjoy Europe more than the Premier League, coolly converted Cody Gakpo's pass, and the game looked done until Tani Oluwaseyi's smart far-post finish briefly raised the stakes in the 87th minute.
