Van Dijk: Iraola style worth the risk with Salah's impact 'massive' on Ngumoha

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk believes the risks of playing Andoni Iraola’s way are worth the reward, and said youngster Rio Ngumoha is thriving after learning from Mo Salah. Villarreal exposed the spaces and flaws in a team that made six changes by taking a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday but, inspired by their 18-year-old phenomenon, the hosts fought back to win 4-3 and maintain their 100 per cent Champions League record. The change involved Iraola doubling-down on his high-intensity pressing in the second half, gambling on a man-to-man approach to first nullify the visitors’ superior mobility and then turn the game in their favour. Ngumoha’s pace and directness was a key factor but the positivity of bringing on Florian Wirtz at half-time and dropping previous number 10 Ryan Gravenberch to right-back was rewarded with a third successive win.

It was the first time Liverpool had come from 2-0 down to win in the Champions League since beating Villarreal in the 2022 semi-final. “Obviously we don’t want to put ourselves in a position where you have to come back from anything and that’s what I did from the start,” said Van Dijk, who was at pains to take responsibility for “a bad day at the office” after his individual error led to conceding the first goal. “It wasn’t a great first half but we got it turned around. When it pays off, yes definitely (it’s exciting). “But when you just mistime the tackle or when they flick it then it could be wide open but that was definitely the message: we have to go all-in if we try to win the ball up high and you have to take that risk and second half we were much better.” Ngumoha was deservedly awarded man of the match as, in addition to his two assists for Alexis Mac Allister, he was, in Van Dijk’s words, “pretty electric”

The 18-year-old has completed more successful dribbles (16) than any player in the Champions League, with Barcelona’s Ballon d’Or contender Lamine Yamal four behind in second place. “He was a complete threat constantly and their defender had a tough time,” added Van Dijk, who believes spending last season in the same squad as Mohamed Salah was of huge benefit. “Everyone is chipping in but for him to work with Mo last year was obviously massive as Mo was one of the best wingers at the club and experienced everything, so why not soak in all the information and show it on the pitch and show your own qualities? “I think he has shown it this season but there is still much more to come.”