Liverpool were 2-0 down at Anfield after 29 minutes and won 4-3. They have nine points from three games in the league phase, and Rio Ngumoha, 18, made the difference.
Villarreal fly out
Georges Mikautadze scored after four minutes from a tight angle on the left. According to Sky Sports it was the earliest Liverpool had fallen behind at Anfield in a major European tie for a quarter of a century. On 29 minutes Nathan Saliba sent Sergi Cardona through on the break and he made it two.
"They were much better than us in the first half and we were much better in the second half," Andoni Iraola said.
Two corners
Liverpool came back the way they could. On 36 minutes Kostas Tsimikas swung in a corner and Alexis Mac Allister headed it in. In the second minute of first-half stoppage time Ngumoha delivered the corner and Ronald Araujo, on loan from Barcelona and playing at right-back, headed the equaliser.
"The key moment was when they equalised to make it 2-2 just before half-time," Villarreal coach Iñigo Pérez said. "We had a fantastic first half. But the mentality and emotion drops, theirs grows and it affects you, particularly at Anfield."
Three minutes
Florian Wirtz came on at half-time. On 65 minutes Ngumoha set up Mac Allister from close range for his second. Three minutes later Cody Gakpo broke and found Wirtz, who scored left footed into the bottom right corner.
Villarreal kept going. Substitute Tani Oluwaseyi volleyed in Ayoze Pérez's cross on 87, but Liverpool held on.
Ngumoha
Ngumoha started on the right wing and finished with two assists and, according to Sky, seven successful dribbles. Liverpool say he is the youngest player to assist for the club in European competition.
"It's up there with one of the best I've played," he said. "Whenever I get the ball and there's an opportunity to go one vs one or two vs one, I believe in myself. I'll just keep going and be ruthless." On the Kop singing his name: "We have the best fans in the world and to hear my name chanted is a dream."
"I am really happy with Rio," Iraola said. "He's becoming a more complete player. He's still only 18." Mac Allister was blunter: "Rio was amazing tonight. He made the difference."
A warning
Iraola was not entirely happy. "When we've been under pressure, we answered well. When we relaxed, we made mistakes," he said. "It's good to come back but we've started losing too many goals this season."
Pérez did not think his side had been outclassed. "I don't think we were close to being hammered. I believe if we are able to correct simple details, but elite details, we would be able to win on these big stages."
Liverpool arrived on the back of a 2-1 win at Brentford on Saturday, after losing 3-0 at home to Manchester City the week before.
