Ngumoha shines on Champions League debut for Liverpool

Rio Ngumoha marked his first Champions League start with a decisive contribution as Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night at Anfield.

The 18-year-old was named in Andoni Iraola's starting XI for the league-phase opener, with Atletico's Marcos Llorente putting the visitors ahead in the first half.

Dominik Szoboszlai equalised before Alexis Mac Allister scored the winner, a goal that followed incisive dribbling from Ngumoha on the left flank that cut open the Atletico defence.

"It was crazy," Ngumoha said after the match. "To be fair, I remember it last year when Virg [van Dijk] got the winner. It's exactly the same. The way it roars… I've never heard anything like it. Anfield is special."

The result was the third time this season Liverpool have recovered from a losing position to take points, a pattern Ngumoha attributed to the influence of head coach Iraola.

"We know as a team we have a lot of fight, especially under the new gaffer now. He drives the fight within us," the forward said. "We saw the courage second half, first half as well, Dom's goal to get it back. Then in the second half we just came out flying and saw the result through."

Ngumoha, who played for an hour, said he was determined to prove himself at the highest level after being handed the start by Iraola.

"The manager knows I'm good at attacking but to play you have to be good at defending as well, or you just have to work hard. That's what he wants from me. I'm pleased that the gaffer put faith in me and I just wanted to prove to him and prove to myself that I could play at this level."