Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has made clear he expects even greater things from teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, whose energy and invention helped drag the Reds back from the brink in a breathtaking Champions League clash at Anfield.

Liverpool found themselves 2-0 down inside 30 minutes against Villarreal on Tuesday, but the hosts rallied to claim a 4-3 victory — overcoming a two-goal deficit in the Champions League for the first time since beating Villarreal in the 2022 semi-finals. The result keeps Liverpool's record in this season's competition at a perfect 100 percent.

Ngumoha's pace turns the tide

The 18-year-old Ngumoha was a persistent danger throughout the second-half fightback, laying on two assists for Alexis Mac Allister, who scored twice to help seal the win. His directness repeatedly troubled Villarreal's defensive line and gave Liverpool a different dimension when they needed it most.