Rio Ngumoha, aged 18 years and 52 days, became the youngest Liverpool player to either score or assist for the club in the Champions League, and he inspired a memorable 4-3 comeback win over Villarreal at Anfield.
In a game of seven goals, Ngumoha scored none, but this was his night. The 18-year-old was a class apart from the rest.
It is over a year since Ngumoha burst on to the scene for Liverpool with a stoppage-time winner at Newcastle. He has been in and out of the team since then, impressing in flashes and even making his England debut earlier this season. This performance was different.
By the time Bradley Barcola replaced him in the 74th minute, chants of “Rio, Rio, Rio” had repeatedly rung around Anfield. At the final whistle, Rio by Duran Duran played over the tannoy. Alisson embraced Ngumoha shortly after the young man received Uefa’s player of the match award.
“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.”
Ngumoha turns the tide
Liverpool were woeful for much of the first half and trailed Villarreal by two goals. Ngumoha took responsibility and began to turn the tide.
After Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back, Ngumoha found space to dink in a delightful ball that Ronald Araujo met for the equaliser.
After the break, Ngumoha waltzed past Sergi Cardona, as he had done all evening, and then held off Juan Foyth to set up Mac Allister and give Liverpool the lead. Florian Wirtz added what proved to be a vital fourth.
Contract talks ongoing as Ngumoha’s football speaks volumes
The match statistics showed what a threat Ngumoha can be. He had 12 touches in the opposition box, completed seven of eight dribbles and registered two crucial assists.
Watching Ngumoha is more than a numbers experience, though. A fearless streak in his play gets the crowd going, and he was the one bright spark in a first half in which Liverpool lacked any rhythm. In a game increasingly focused on structures, his raw ability to take a man on sets him apart.
“He was magnificent tonight,” said former Liverpool forward Daniel Sturridge on Amazon Prime.
“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 grew up playing down the left and has struggled to get minutes on his preferred side this season, especially with Cody Gakpo and Barcola often playing down that flank. Head coach Andoni Iraola wants his wingers to be able to play on both sides, and Ngumoha’s improvement on the right has been impressive in such a short time.
Ngumoha spoke about his rapid development on the right on Saturday, after Liverpool beat Brentford.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot better playing there from the Newcastle game [at the start of this season] until now,” he said.
“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.”
‘There will be ups and downs’
Liverpool’s fans applauded Ngumoha, and he recognised their backing too.
Iraola praised Ngumoha’s attitude and said he is playing more minutes “endurance-wise”, but stressed the need to remember that the youngster is not done developing.
“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,” Iraola said.
“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.”
Talks continue over a new deal. Ngumoha is currently on the contract he signed in September 2025, weeks after his 17th birthday, which ties him down until 2028. The expectation is that he will sign on more lucrative terms now that he is 18. As Ngumoha said at the weekend, those negotiations are going well and are in the hands of his agent.
He will focus on letting his football do the talking, as he did on Tuesday night against Villarreal. Liverpool have a truly special talent on their hands, and they will hope he can entertain the Anfield crowd for years to come.