Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match Liverpool vs Monaco at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom on 09 August 2026 (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images)
Rio Ngumoha of Liverpool during the pre-season friendly match Liverpool vs Monaco at Anfield, Liverpool, United Kingdom on 09 August 2026 (Photo by Jorge Horsted/News Images)
Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield on Tuesday night, extending their perfect start to this season’s Champions League to three wins from three.
Andoni Iraola’s side trailed inside four minutes and found themselves two behind before the half-hour mark, as the visitors threatened to spoil the party on Merseyside.
What followed was a response built on substance rather than panic, with four unanswered goals turning the contest on its head before Villarreal snatched a late consolation.
By full time, the headlines belonged not to the damage done early on, but to a teenager who had quietly rewritten a piece of Champions League history.
Villarreal struck first through Georges Mikautadze, who pounced on a rare mistake from Virgil van Dijk to slot past Alisson Becker in the fourth minute. Sergi Cardona doubled the visitors’ lead on 29 minutes, finishing off a slick move after Nathan Saliba threaded a pass through Liverpool’s defence.
Liverpool hit back before the break. Alexis Mac Allister headed in from a Kostas Tsimikas corner on 36 minutes, and Ronald Araújo levelled the tie in first-half stoppage time, nodding home a teasing cross from Rio Ngumoha.
The second half belonged to the hosts. Mac Allister scored his second of the night in the 65th minute, again assisted by Ngumoha, before Florian Wirtz made it 4-2 four minutes later, finishing off a Cody Gakpo pass.
Villarreal reduced the deficit through Tani Oluwaseyi’s back-post volley in the 87th minute, setting up a tense finish, but Liverpool held on to seal the win.
Ngumoha, operating on the right after a recent switch from his more familiar left flank, supplied the assists for both Araujo’s equaliser and Mac Allister’s second goal.
Villarreal’s defence struggled to contain him, with the teenager beating challenges before setting up both strikes.
According to Opta, at 18 years and 52 days old, Ngumoha became the third-youngest player to register multiple assists in a single Champions League game. Only Warren Zaire-Emery, who provided two assists for Paris Saint-Germain against AC Milan in 2023 at 17 years and 231 days, and Theo Walcott, who did so for Arsenal at 17 years and 250 days, were younger when they achieved the feat.
Rio Ngumoha also became the youngest player on record since 2008-09 to complete at least five dribbles (seven), make 10 or more touches in the opposition box (12) and register two assists in a Champions League match.
Iraola praised the teenager’s development after the match.
“I am really happy with Rio. He is trying to improve everything that we try to connect,” he said. “He is ready now. He is playing on the right after being on the left and adapting well. We encourage him always.”
The Liverpool manager also acknowledged the defensive side of Ngumoha’s game still needs work. “Even defensively, he struggled in the first half but second half was much better. He is becoming a more complete player but he is still just 18!”
Ngumoha was named man of the match for his display, continuing a breakthrough period that began with his Champions League debut against Atletico Madrid in September, when he became the youngest player to appear for Liverpool in Europe at 17 years and 19 days old.
Tuesday’s win moved Liverpool’s record in this season’s Champions League league phase to three wins from three matches, following earlier victories over Atletico Madrid and LASK Linz.
Liverpool turn their attention back to the Premier League, with Iraola flagging Brighton as a tough test to come.
“They are flying and have a similar style to Villarreal. It will be demanding.”
2 – Rio Ngumoha (18y 52d) is the third-youngest player to provide multiple assists in a UEFA Champions League game behind Warren Zaïre-Emery v Milan (17y 231d) and Theo Walcott v Hamburger SV (17y 250d).
Flying. https://t.co/CUbbleRhEJ
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 20, 2026
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