Rio Ngumoha was handed his full Champions League debut in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid.
Rio Ngumoha is eager to prove himself to new Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola after being handed his first Champions League start against Atletico Madrid.
The Reds came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory at Anfield, with Alexis Mac Allister scoring the winner after good work from Ngumoha.
The 18-year-old was making his second start of the season against the La Liga side and his first on his preferred left-hand side. He had started on the right against Newcastle United earlier in the campaign before being benched against Nottingham Forest and left unused against Ipswich Town.
Ngumoha completed an hour against Atletico, falling just short of matching his entire Champions League playing time from last season.
Now, the teenager is hungry for more as he looks to continue impressing his new head coach.
“First UCL start. Big win. Just getting started,” he wrote on Instagram after the game.
Speaking to the club after the final whistle, Ngumoha revealed what Iraola is demanding from him as he reflected on a memorable full European debut at Anfield.
“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,” he said. “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. It was a good game.
“We know as a team we have a lot of fight, especially under the new gaffer now. He drives the fight within us. He said a couple of details for me and Milos Kerkez at half-time, about how to press from our side. Once we get them through the middle, we’re on them. It worked in the second half.
“We saw the courage in the second half, and in the first half as well. Dom’s [Dominik Szoboszlai] goal got us back into it. Then, in the second half, we just came out flying and saw the result through, so it was good.
“It’s good to get the three points in the first game of the Champions League. The crowd was amazing. Anfield was roaring.
“It was crazy. To be fair, I remember it last year when Virg [Virgil van Dijk] got the winner. It’s exactly the same. The way it roars… I’ve never heard anything like it. Anfield is special.
“From Friday night at Ipswich to today and hopefully getting another win on Saturday. Who knows what can happen this season? It’s been a good start to this season.”
