Liverpool 4-3 Villarreal: What Iraola and Ngumoha said

- Published
Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola, speaking to Amazon Prime: "A lot of things happened today. They were much better than us in the first half, and we were much better in the second half. When we've been under pressure, we answered well. When we relaxed, we made mistakes. You cannot relax against very good opposition. I value the win.
"We have to know that if we don't go to the limit, it will be difficult. We are facing very good teams. It's good to come back, but we've started losing too many goals this season.
On Brighton: "They are flying. Their confidence is through the roof. A similar style to Villarreal. They are second in everything after Barcelona. It has been a good game to prepare and we will use it.
On Rio Ngumoha: "I am really happy with Rio. He is trying to improve everything that we try to correct. He is playing a lot more on the right and he has adapted really well. He's going more inside. He struggled defensively in the first half. The second half was much better. He's becoming a more complete player. He's still only 18.
"In the first half, they were overloading the middle. We decided to put Ryan [Gravenberch] at right-back and be more of a threat working with Rio. I value Ryan a lot.
"We decided to try a bit more one-sided, help more on the left. From there, we finished the first half well and started the second half really well.
On almost playing for Liverpool: "I had a couple of moments. Even after Rafa. I was so happy where I was playing. A lot of players want to play for Liverpool."
Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha, speaking to Amazon Prime: "It was a top performance from the boys. We were two goals down but the mentality was always there. We knew we were going to win.
"It's up there with one of the best I've played. I enjoyed myself and the team helped me a lot.
"Whenever I get the ball and there's an opportunity to go one v one or two v one, I believe in myself. I'll just keep going and be ruthless."
On becoming Liverpool's youngest player to assist in the Champions League: "These records are amazing to break but winning is the most important."
On playing on the right: "It's helped me a lot in training with the gaffer, the coaching staff and the players."
On hearing his name chanted: "We have the best fans in the world and to hear my name chanted is a dream."
Did you know?
Liverpool have won a European Cup/Champions League game in which they were two goals down for the second time, previously doing so against Villarreal in the semi-finals in May 2022.
Rio Ngumoha (18y 52d) is the third-youngest player to provide multiple assists in a Champions League game behind Warren Zaïre-Emery v Milan in 2023 (17y 231d) and Theo Walcott v Hamburger SV in 2006 (17y 250d).