Liverpool started off in dreadful fashion against Villarreal on Tuesday evening, with a raft of changes from Andoni Iraola failing to have the desired effect.

Virgil van Dijk is the last player you’d expect to make a mistake in this Liverpool team, but the Dutchman’s horrendous attempted header back to Alisson Becker in just the third minute set the tone for the game.
Georges Mikautadze duly picked up the pieces to score.

Shearer praises Rio Ngumoha vs Villarreal

Ngumoha has been superb in each of his last two appearances against LASK and then Brentford, with the 18-year-old really getting to grips with his new role on the right wing.

He continued that form right from the get-go against Villarreal, leading Shearer to praise him continuously during the first-half.

“He’s made the best start out of all Liverpool players,” said the Newcastle legend. “When he’s had the ball he’s looked lively, looked fresh and you can just hear that anticipation from the crowd when he gets it.”

After Ngumoha went at – and beat – his full-back again a few minutes later, Shearer once again hailed what he was seeing from the youngster.

“He’s the one, no doubt about it, he’s made a really bright start,” he said.

“Not many in a Liverpool shirt have, but he has been really, really positive every time he’s had the ball. The crowd have wanted him to go at the defender and he has. He’s caused him problems and got the ball into the box.”

With Liverpool so sluggish through the rest of the pitch, Shearer couldn’t help but slam them – deservedly – at every opportunity, but he made a point to spare Ngumoha of any blame.

“At the minute it’s just mistake after mistake after mistake from every Liverpool player except Rio Ngumoha,” said the former striker.

After another jinking run earned the Reds a corner, Shearer hailed the way the teenager had been the one player who had tried to get the crowd going.

“Really, really positive again and listen to the reaction from the crowd, they’re urging him on,” he said. “Every time he’s had the ball one-v-one he’s done something, he’s exciting. They’re wanting other players to do that as well and rightly so.”