Jamie Carragher has hailed Rio Ngumoha for helping Andoni Iraola avoid a Liverpool selection headache on the right wing and called for the 18-year-old to be handed a new contract following a man-of-the-match performance in the 4-3 victory over Villarreal.

Despite Alexis Mac Allister scoring a brace in the Champions League fixture, the teenager caught the eye and won high praise after providing two assists for the Argentina international while operating off the right side.

Since joining Liverpool’s youth set-up as a 16-year-old from Chelsea, Ngumoha has broken into the first team and displayed moments of brilliance, with Thomas Tuchel calling him up to his England squad, and with just two-and-a-half years remaining on his current deal, Carragher is keen for the club to secure one of its best talents with his current deal expiring in 2028.

“He was brilliant, he was fantastic,” Carragher told CBS Sports. “He was really good, the youngest player to ever create a goal in the Champions League for Liverpool. He beat Michael Owen’s record, he’s a future superstar.

“He’s in the England squad already. He hasn’t yet signed a new contract at Liverpool. We need to get that sorted. I hope he signs.

“Right now, we’ve got a lot of wingers in the team. But he’s the best winger Liverpool have got right now. Liverpool have a problem position on the right wing, a lot of left wingers. Rio might be better on the left, but he was outstanding on the right, he’s saving the manager a problem.”

Ngumoha revelled in the experience at Anfield, telling Prime: “It’s up there with one of the best I’ve played, I think. I enjoyed myself out there. The team helped me as well a lot. I enjoyed today.”

After a match-changing substitute appearance at Brentford on Saturday the teenager is starting to become a pivotal figure in head coach Andoni Iraola’s game plan.

This was his best display for Liverpool as they recovered from 2-0 down after 29 minutes to hold a commanding lead with Ronald Araujo and Florian Wirtz, with his first since April, adding the other goals.

“I think he was coming from a very good game the other day, he had a good second half against Brentford,” said Iraola.

“He didn’t have an easy game also because they were demanding him defensively and their left-back was attacking a lot.

“There was a moment offensively where he was very difficult to stop. If we can put Rio in situations one v one, he makes plays, he produces things, today the (second) assist for Alexis is a lovely play.

“He could go down for a penalty but he decides to continue which is a great decision.

“I am very happy with his attitude because he tries to improve the things we think he needs to improve. He is eager to add more things to his game.

“That’s the good thing with Rio is he is still 18, he is not the full package, he can add things fortunately for us. Hopefully he can continue in the same way.”

Iraola also praised the contribution of Mac Allister, along with Ngumoha probably the only player who had a decent first half.

The World Cup winner’s two goals helped turn the game in their favour as they moved up to second in the table, behind Paris St Germain, with a third successive victory.

“He played like a higher position. He can arrive inside the box like a number eight and the first goal from a set-piece is a great goal as he is not the tallest,” said the Basque.

“Also the character, when you are 2-0 down, not playing well, he doesn’t panic, he has the experience has won a lot of things and it is lovely to have him.”

Villarreal manager Inigo Perez felt Araujo’s goal seconds before the interval proved crucial.

“The key moments were when they equalised to make it 2-2 just before half-time,” he said.

“We had a fantastic first half. I do believe we were able to remain in the game until the very end but if you score three goals, play very well in the game and you end up taking home a defeat where you have to analyse it is the errors we made.”

PA contributed to this report