Anfield witnessed a European classic on Tuesday as Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Villarreal 4-3 and make it three wins from three in the Champions League.

The night started disastrously for the hosts. Virgil van Dijk miscued a header in the fourth minute and Georges Mikautadze pounced, before Sergi Cardona raced through to make it 2-0 before the half hour. It was the earliest Liverpool had fallen behind at Anfield in a major European tie for a quarter of a century.

The comeback was built on crosses. Alexis Mac Allister headed in Kostas Tsimikas’ corner, and in first-half stoppage time Ronald Araujo nodded in at the far post from a delivery by 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who was superb all night.

Ngumoha set up Mac Allister again on 65 minutes for the goal that put Liverpool in front, and substitute Florian Wirtz added the fourth three minutes later, a left-footed finish that was his first competitive goal of the season. Tani Oluwaseyi’s 87th-minute strike made for a nervous finish, but Liverpool held on.

Manager Andoni Iraola had rested Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Wirtz from the start with Sunday’s visit of Brighton in mind. His team are level with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the league phase, though he admitted afterwards that Liverpool, who have conceded three goals in each of their last two European games, cannot keep living this dangerously.