Liverpool fight back from 2-0 down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield
- Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
- Alexis Mac Allister scored twice and Florian Wirtz got the winner at Anfield.
- The win keeps Liverpool's perfect start going with nine points from three games.
Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield on Tuesday and keep their perfect start to this season's Champions League.
The Reds now have nine points from three games in the league phase, level with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the table.
Villarreal, coached by Inigo Perez, made a bright start. Virgil van Dijk misjudged a header back towards goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Georges Mikautadze finished from close range after just four minutes.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 29th minute when Sergi Cardona ran onto a pass and steered the ball past Alisson. Reports differed slightly on the build-up: Punch credited Nathan Saliba with the assist, while Leadership mentioned Alberto Moleiro and Santi Cardona in the attacking move.
How the comeback happened
Alexis Mac Allister pulled one back in the 41st minute. Punch described it as a looping header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner, while Leadership said the move was created by Tsimikas without specifying how the goal was scored.
Liverpool were level in first-half stoppage time. The two outlets describe the equaliser differently: Punch reported that Ronald Araujo headed in a cross from 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, while Leadership described it as an Araujo own goal in the 45+2nd minute. Either way, the score was 2-2 at the break.
Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead for the first time in the 65th minute, finishing a low cross from Ngumoha. Four minutes later, substitute Florian Wirtz made it 4-2 from a Cody Gakpo pass.
Villarreal set up a nervous finish when Tani Oluwaseyi scored from an Ayoze Perez cross in the 87th minute, but Liverpool held on.
Reds boss Andoni Iraola left Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Wirtz on the bench, reportedly with Sunday's Premier League game against Brighton in mind. Punch put the combined value of the three forwards at over £100 million ($133 million).
What happens next
Liverpool turn to the Premier League and a home game against Brighton on Sunday. Villarreal stay on three points from their first three Champions League matches.
