Rio Ngumoha wins man-of-the-match as Liverpool rally to beat Villarreal 4-3
Rio Ngumoha produced a man-of-the-match display for Liverpool in a 4-3 Champions League win over Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday. The 18-year-old’s performance drew public praise from captain Virgil van Dijk and manager Andoni Iraola.
Ngumoha started on the right and it was his fifth start under Iraola. There had been questions about how he would adapt to playing on that flank, particularly after Liverpool signed Bradley Barcola for £123m from Paris Saint-Germain, and Iraola had called for versatility from all of his wingers this summer.
Ngumoha’s 71st-minute attempt sailed wide of Peter Gulacsi’s top corner and into the Kop at 4-2, a moment which afforded Villarreal respite. After the comeback win Iraola said: “I’m happy with his attitude because he’s eager to improve the things that we think he needs to improve. He has played a lot on the right lately. He’s feeling so comfortable now that he’s even adding some shots with the left. He hasn’t scored but he’s getting there, and if he can add these small things to his game it will put him in an even better position.”
A devastating run from Ngumoha supplied Alexis Mac Allister’s second goal of the game. Ngumoha’s 71st-minute attempt was described in the match report as reminiscent of Mohamed Salah in its intent, if not in execution, and the Liverpool great’s final season at Anfield was noted as an education for the young winger.
Van Dijk said senior players had helped Ngumoha’s progression, adding: “I would say Cody [Gakpo] is definitely part of that. Everyone is chipping in but for him to work with Mo last year was obviously massive. Mo was one of the best wingers at the club and experienced everything so why not soak in all the information and show it on the pitch and show your own qualities? I think he has shown it this season but there is still much more to come. He’s pretty electric at times and he showed it again. He was a complete threat constantly and their defender had a tough time.”
The match was not without flaws: Van Dijk’s early mistake, Iraola’s initial formation and Liverpool’s lethargy on the ball were all punished by Iñigo Pérez’s slick side in the first half. Van Dijk conceded: “It was a terrible start. I think the saying is you fight an uphill battle and as a defender it is pretty difficult to come back from it. I tried but it was a bad day at the office personally but we do it together with 11 players. We turned it around and that’s the main thing.” The rousing recovery, the relentless high press, Iraola’s bold changes and the character required to overturn a 2-0 deficit were compared to the Jürgen Klopp era, and the win was recorded in Iraola’s 11th game in charge after Liverpool replaced Arne Slot with the Basque coach this summer.
Van Dijk reflected on the tactical demands and fixture congestion, saying: “If you look at it from that perspective, it is like that. We train a lot, tactically as well, but because there are so many games you learn playing games and this was a test in that sense because Villarreal were good on the ball. They also rotated a lot so you have to find moments when you can press them and when you can win the ball high. “Is this squad used to that [pressing style] because I don’t think many players have been part of that? What the manager wants us to do is something which resonates with Liverpool and it is down to us to show it in each and every game. It’s not easy, it’s demanding, but if you want to win games and win games in the Liverpool way then we have to do it. The first half was obviously not good at all and the second half was solid and we turned it around and that’s a good sign.”
Van Dijk closed by setting the immediate task for the squad, saying: “Now we have to get ready for Brighton, a super team, which is coming.”