Andoni Iraola insisted Liverpool must address their defensive vulnerabilities despite a remarkable comeback victory over Villarreal, warning that his side could not afford to relax after turning a two-goal deficit into a 4-3 Champions League win.

Liverpool looked in serious trouble after Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona capitalised on a disjointed opening half-hour to give the visitors a deserved advantage. Alexis Mac Allister and Ronald Araújo restored parity before the interval, however, before Mac Allister’s second goal and a clinical finish from Florian Wirtz put the hosts in control.

Tani Oluwaseyi’s late strike ensured an uncomfortable finish, with Liverpool forced to protect their advantage after appearing to have completed a convincing turnaround.

Speaking after the match, Iraola acknowledged the dramatic shift in momentum between the two halves.

“A lot of things have happened today,” he said. “They were much better than us in the first half … we were much better than them in the second.”

The Liverpool head coach was pleased with the result against a strong opponent but made clear that the performance could not be assessed solely through the final scoreline.

“I’m happy and value the win because the opponent is very good,”

The Liverpool head coach stressed this point, before warning that the challenge would not become any easier as the Champions League campaign progressed.

“We must stop conceding.”

Liverpool’s ability to recover from two goals down demonstrated their attacking resilience, but the manner of Villarreal’s goals offered a reminder of the problems Iraola still needs to solve.

The opening strike followed a costly mix-up between Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, with Mikautadze taking advantage of the defensive uncertainty to score inside the opening minutes. Cardona then doubled Villarreal’s lead after a pass through the middle exposed Liverpool’s defensive structure.

The response was emphatic. Mac Allister’s header gave Liverpool a foothold before Araújo equalised with a cross from Ngumoha, and the hosts carried that momentum into a dominant second-half spell.

Yet Oluwaseyi’s late goal prevented Liverpool from seeing out the contest comfortably. After fighting back to lead 4-2, they allowed Villarreal another opportunity to threaten a result that had seemed beyond the visitors.

Iraola’s warning was therefore significant. Liverpool’s attacking quality had rescued the evening, but their defensive lapses meant they had needed to produce an exceptional recovery in the first place.

The challenge now is to combine the intensity and creativity of their second-half performance with greater control across the full 90 minutes.

One of the clearest positives for Liverpool was the influence of Ngumoha, whose direct running helped change the direction of the match.

The teenager supplied the cross for Araújo’s equaliser before producing another decisive contribution for Mac Allister’s go-ahead goal. His willingness to take on defenders gave Liverpool an attacking outlet that had been missing during their sluggish opening period.

Iraola was particularly encouraged by the youngster’s development, including the work taking place away from the ball.

“Rio is trying to improve everything we are trying to correct, even defensively, he is becoming a more complete player.”

That assessment offered a glimpse of what the Liverpool head coach wants from Ngumoha beyond his obvious attacking ability. His dribbling and delivery made a decisive difference against Villarreal, but Iraola also highlighted the importance of improving the defensive side of his game.

The performance was another step in that process. Ngumoha did not simply provide moments of individual quality; he helped Liverpool change the tempo of the contest, repeatedly forcing Villarreal to defend facing their own goal.

His contribution was particularly valuable in a match where Liverpool initially struggled to find cohesion, and his influence continued after the interval as the hosts took control.

Liverpool’s attention now turns to Brighton, who visit Anfield on Sunday. Iraola was already looking ahead to that challenge, describing the visitors as being in excellent form and noting similarities between their approach and Villarreal’s.

“Brighton are flying right now, a similar style to Villarreal in a lot of ways.”

That comparison gives Liverpool an immediate reason to examine the lessons from this victory. Their response to Villarreal’s early advantage showed the quality and character available to them, but the opening half also demonstrated how vulnerable they can be when opponents find space through the middle and disrupt their defensive organisation.

The comeback keeps Liverpool’s perfect Champions League record intact after three matches, but Iraola’s message was clear: the result matters, and so does the need to improve.

Liverpool have shown they can recover when a game threatens to get away from them. Their next challenge is to make sure they do not need another comeback to secure the points.