Rio Ngumoha was handed his full Champions League debut in Liverpool's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid
Rio Ngumoha is interviewed by LFC TV following the Reds win over Atletico Madrid
Rio Ngumoha is interviewed by LFC TV following the Reds win over Atletico Madrid(Image: Liverpool FC)
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Rio Ngumoha is eager to prove himself to new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola after being handed his first start in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid. The Reds came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory, with Alexis Mac Allister’s winner coming following good work from Ngumoha.
The 18-year-old was making his second start of the season against the La Liga outfit and his first start on his favoured left-hand side, having started the season on the right against Newcastle United before being benched against Nottingham Forest and left unused against Ipswich Town.
Completing an hour against Atleti, Ngumoha fell just short of matching his entire total of game-time across last season’s Champions League.
And the teenager is now hungry for more as he looks to keep impressing his new Liverpool head coach.
“First UCL start. Big win. Just getting started,” he wrote on Instagram after the game.
Meanwhile, he revealed what Iraola is demanding of him when speaking to the club after the final whistle as he reflected on a memorable full European debut at Anfield.
“The manager knows I’m good at attacking but to play you have to be good at defending as well, or you just have to work hard,” he said. “That’s what he wants from me.
“I’m pleased that the gaffer put faith in me and I just wanted to prove to him and prove to myself that I could play at this level. It was a good game.
“We know as a team we have a lot of fight, especially under the new gaffer now. He drives the fight within us. (He said) a couple of details for me and Milos Kerkez (at half-time), how to just press from our side. And once we get them through the middle, we’re on them. It worked in the second half.
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“We saw the courage second half, first half as well, Dom’s (Dominik Szoboszlai) goal to get it back. Then in the second half we just came out flying and saw the result through, so it was good.”
“Good to get the three points in the first game of the Champions League. The crowd was amazing, Anfield was roaring.
“It was crazy. To be fair, I remember it last year when Virg (Virgil van Dijk) got the winner. It’s exactly the same. The way it roars… I’ve never heard anything like it. Anfield is special.
“From Friday night at Ipswich to today and hopefully get another win on Saturday. Who knows what can happen this season. It’s been a good start to this season.”