LIVERPOOL — Rio Ngumoha became the youngest Liverpool player to either score or assist for the club in the Champions League as the 18-year-old inspired a memorable comeback in a 4-3 win over Villarreal at Anfield. Aged 18 years and 52 days, Ngumoha did not get on the scoresheet in the seven-goal thriller but delivered two assists to turn a two-goal deficit into victory, earning Uefa's player of the match award and an embrace from Alisson.
Liverpool were woeful for much of the first half and trailed Villarreal by two goals before Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back, with Ngumoha then finding space to dink in a delightful ball for Ronald Araujo to equalise. After the break he waltzed past Sergi Cardona to set up Mac Allister to give Liverpool the lead, before being replaced in the 74th minute by Bradley Barcola to repeated chants of "Rio, Rio, Rio" around Anfield. "It's up there with one of the best [games] I've played. I enjoyed myself out there and the team helped me a lot," Ngumoha told Amazon Prime. "Whenever I get the ball and there's an opportunity to go one versus one, or two versus one, I believe in myself to do it. I'll just keep going and be ruthless."
The statistics underlined his threat — 12 touches in the opposition box and seven successful dribbles from eight attempts — but his fearless, direct style lifted a side lacking rhythm in a match increasingly focused on structures. Former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge said on Amazon Prime: "He was magnificent tonight. On the ball, this kid has so much potential - and I say 'kid', but he's a young man. He has so much quality and it's stuff that you can't teach to be honest. What he does with the ball at his feet - that is God-given ability - and his hard work on the training pitch, doing things day in and day out, and being ruthless, is what he said in his interview, and I like that. He wants to be decisive, and I love that."
Ngumoha has grown up playing down the left but has struggled for minutes on his preferred side this season with Cody Gakpo and Bradley Barcola often playing down that flank, and head coach Andoni Iraola wants his wingers to be able to play on both sides. Ngumoha said after Saturday's win over Brentford: "I feel like I've got a lot better playing there from the Newcastle game [at the start of this season] until now. I'm understanding it more. And going away with England helped a lot as well. I like playing on both sides. It gives me another tool in the toolbox." Iraola praised his attitude and how he is playing more minutes "endurance-wise", adding: "I am happy with his attitude because he is eager to improve the things we think he needs to improve, and to add more things to his game. He has played a lot on the right lately and is feeling so comfortable now, but he is only 18 and still not the full package. I hope it continues the same way, but it is not always going to be like this. There will be ups and downs in the process, but I'm happy because attitude-wise I think he's in a great place."
It is just over a year since Ngumoha burst onto the scene for Liverpool with a memorable stoppage-time winner at Newcastle, since impressing in flashes and making his England debut earlier this season. Talks continue over a new deal to replace the contract he signed in September 2025, weeks after his 17th birthday, which ties him down until 2028, with the expectation he will sign on more lucrative terms now he is 18 and negotiations in the hands of his agent. As he showed on Tuesday night against Villarreal, Liverpool have a truly special talent they will hope can entertain the Anfield crowd for years to come.