Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to extend Rio Ngumoha's contract after the teenage winger impressed in the Champions League and strengthened his growing reputation at Anfield

Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool to extend Rio Ngumoha's contract after the teenage winger impressed in the Champions League.

The teenage winger registered two assists in Liverpool's thrilling 4-3 victory over Villarreal on Tuesday evening, with Anfield chanting his name as the Reds completed a stunning comeback. His first assist saw Ngumoha overtake Michael Owen to become the youngest Liverpool player to score or assist in the Champions League.

Ngumoha also created several chances and repeatedly beat his marker, building on an encouraging display against Brentford last weekend. Speaking after the game, Carragher described the 18-year-old as a "future superstar" and stressed the importance of Liverpool agreeing a new contract with the highly rated winger.

"I think he was really good, wasn’t he? You know, I saw this earlier: he’s the youngest player ever to create a goal in the Champions League for Liverpool. He’s just beaten Michael Owen’s record, he’s only 18, and he is a future superstar" Carragher said on CBS Sports Golazo.

"He is an English player, and he’s already in England’s squad. He hasn’t yet signed a new contract at Liverpool, I don’t think, so we need to get that sorted."

When Micah Richards asked whether Ngumoha will sign, Carragher added: “I hope he signs, yes, because right now we’ve got a lot of wingers in the team, but he’s performing. He’s the best winger Liverpool have got right now.

“Liverpool have a problem position on the right wing. They’ve got a lot of left wingers. Rio might be better on the left, but he was outstanding on the right tonight, so he’s saving the manager a problem.”

Daniel Sturridge was equally impressed by Ngumoha's performance, praising the teenager's natural ability, work rate and desire to make a difference. "Ngumoha was magnificent tonight — such a threat, and he dedicated himself to his tasks," Sturridge said on Prime Video.

"On the ball, this kid has so much potential, and I say kid, but he's a young man. He has so much quality, and it's stuff that you can't teach, to be honest.

"What he does with the ball at his feet, that is God-given ability, and his hard work on the training pitch, doing things day in and day out, and being ruthless, is what he said in his interview, and I like that. He wants to be decisive, and I love that about him."

Now 18, Ngumoha is eligible to sign a longer-term contract with Liverpool, but his immediate focus remains on continuing to impress on the pitch. "To be fair, that is all with my agent now," Ngumoha told reporters after Brentford. "I think it is all going well. I am not too sure. I just let the football do the talking at the end of the day.

"I enjoy playing and all of that stuff is in the back of my mind really. I just play for the club, play for Liverpool, and hopefully I can carry on doing well."