Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has issued a strong message to Andoni Iraola over teen sensation Rio Ngumoha

Liverpool have been told it is now impossible to drop Rio Ngumoha given the teenager's stirring answer to the right-wing issue for Andoni Iraola.

Ngumoha was man of the match when providing two assists as the Reds came from behind to beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League in midweek.

The 18-year-old has featured in nine of 11 games under Andoni Iraola and took until March last season to total the minutes he has already accrued this term in the first team.

Four of Ngumoha's five starts this campaign have come on the right flank, and former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch believes the youngster should make his second Premier League start of the season for Sunday's visit of Brighton.

“He is undroppable," said Crouch. "He’s Liverpool’s best player at the moment. It’s got to the point where he has to be starting games.

“The fact he can play off the right is a big plus. It means you can get a (Cody) Gakpo or (Bradley) Barcola into the game as well.

“He was fantastic against Villarreal, and the crowd really took to him.

“He’s not going to get you the goals that Mo Salah got obviously, but creative-wise he could consistently create chances from that right-hand side."

Liverpool have taken 12 points from their opening seven Premier League games and stand four points behind third-placed Brighton.

Make sure you never miss the latest Liverpool FC news and opinion by making Liverpool Echo one of your Google preferred sources.

And having struggled to secure Champions League qualification last term by finishing fifth, Crouch believes there is little chance of Liverpool competing for the title but does expect an improvement.

“Once you get (Alexander) Isak and (Hugo) Ekitike back in that team, they’ll be scoring goals for fun," he said, speaking to exclusively to Paddy Power.

“(Florian) Wirtz has had two good back-to-back performances now. He took his goal against Villarreal really well.

“They’re not going to be challenging for the title this year, but there’s definitely encouraging signs it’s better than last year.”