Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 in a Champions League league phase game at Anfield on Tuesday after trailing by two goals by the half-hour mark. Eighteen-year-old Rio Ngumoha was named UEFA's official Player of the Match.
Two assists in the comeback
Ngumoha provided assists for Ronald Araújo’s equalizer and Alexis Mac Allister’s second strike of the game. He completed nine dribbles against Villarreal before being withdrawn in the 74th minute.
Opta records for the teenager
According to Opta, Ngumoha became the fourth teenager to complete seven or more dribbles in multiple Champions League matches since records began in 2003-04. According to Opta, Ngumoha matched a feat previously managed only by Lamine Yamal, Cristiano Ronaldo and Arjen Robben.
Ngumoha completed seven dribbles in Liverpool’s 6-3 win away at LASK. According to Opta, Ngumoha became the youngest player to notch two assists in a single match for Liverpool since Michael Owen in 1998. According to Opta, Ngumoha became Liverpool’s youngest player to assist a goal in a European competition.
Ngumoha on playing on the right
Ngumoha said: "It’s helping me a lot in training, the gaffer, all the coaching staff, all the players believe in me. Slowly and slowly I’m getting better on the right."
His verdict on the performance
Ngumoha said: "It’s up there with one of the best I’ve played, I think. I enjoyed myself out there. The team helped me as well a lot. I enjoyed today."
Ngumoha said: "Whenever I get the ball and there’s an opportunity to go one-on-one or two-on-one sometimes, by all means I’ll do it. I believe in myself to do it. The more chances we get, the more it makes the opposition worry. I just keep going and be ruthless."