Ngumoha stars as Liverpool come back to win seven-goal thriller
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Liverpool came from two goals down to defeat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield and make it three wins from three in this season’s Champions League.

Two goals from Alexis Mac Allister and one apiece from Ronald Araujo and Florian Wirtz completed the turnaround, with Rio Ngumoha superb. All of it came after Virgil van Dijk's poor header allowed Georges Mikautadze to score in the fourth minute.

It was the earliest that Liverpool had fallen behind at Anfield in a major European tie for a quarter of a century but worse was to come when Sergi Cardona raced through to finish off a slick move for the Spanish side's second, a deserved lead at that stage.

But Mac Allister's header from Kostas Tsimikas' corner pulled one back and the lively Ngumoha then fashioned an equaliser when Araujo ghosted in at the far post with Cardona sleeping. It was hardly deserved but Liverpool were rampant after the break.

Image: Liverpool's Ronald Araujo scored a first-half equaliser against Villarreal

The introduction of Wirtz undoubtedly helped but it was Ngumoha whose dancing feet opened up the Villarreal defence to set up Mac Allister for his second. Wirtz then made it four himself with a left-footed finish beyond Peter Gulacsi. His relief was palpable.

Image: Substitute Florian Wirtz put Liverpool 4-2 up against Villarreal

Andoni Iraola will likely feel the same after Tani Oluwaseyi set up a nervous finish. Liverpool have conceded three goals in each of their last two Champions League games but won them both. It has not been entirely convincing but it is a third victory in a row.

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Key moments from Anfield...

4 - GOAL! Mikautadze seized on Van Dijk's poor header to score

29 - GOAL! Cardona raced through to finish slick Villarreal move

36 - GOAL! Mac Allister nodded in Tsimikas' right-wing corner

45+2 - GOAL! Araujo ghosted in behind Cardona to level it up

65 - GOAL! Mac Allister finished brilliant Ngumoha wing play

68 - GOAL! Wirtz's low left-footed finish quickly made it four

87 - GOAL! Oluwaseyi scored to set up a nervous Anfield finish

Liverpool's next fixtures...

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