Liverpool were not able to find a direct replacement for Mohamed Salah this summer, but after the win over Villarreal, a solution has appeared

Rio Ngumoha's scintillating display against Villarreal shows he could well be the Mohamed Salah replacement Liverpool are craving. The 18-year-old contributed two excellent assists as Andoni Iraola's side came from 2-0 down to beat the Spaniards 4-3 in the Champions League.

The Reds have invested close to £500million in their frontline in the last two seasons, but an obvious replacement for Salah on the right flank was not signed. Even Bradley Barcola, the £123m arrival from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, looks more comfortable on the left.

Iraola has utilised Ngumoha on the right despite the youngster being primarily right-footed. But he was a threat on the outside and the inside, and, according to Iraola, his ability to shoot and score on his weaker left foot is only improving.

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While the Reds' boss was keen to highlight his improving abilities, he also marked out a key difference between Ngumoha and Salah - the young Englishman is also putting in the hard work to assist the team defensively.

After Liverpool's third Champions League victory in a row, Iraola said: "I'm really happy with Rio, not because he played really well, because I think he’s trying to improve everything that we try to correct. Attitude wise, he’s ready now.

"We've changed a little bit. He's playing a lot more on the right, he was very used to playing on the left and he has adapted very, very well. He hasn’t lost the threat of going one vs one, getting inside the box, even finishing with the left foot.

"We encourage him always, because I think he's good also there. Even defensively, he struggled a little bit in the first-half, but second-half was much better and he's becoming a more complete player. Still 18, don't forget he's still 18. But level-wise I think he's facing very good opposition and he's doing very well."

Of course, one area Ngumoha is not equal to Salah in is goals. He is yet to find the net this season and his brace of assists against Villarreal were his first two goal contributions of the season.

Meanwhile, Salah contributed 257 goals and 123 assists in 442 appearances for the Reds, which saw him become the club's third all-time top goal-scorer, trailing only Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346).

Nevertheless, as Iraola said, Ngumoha is only 18 years old. Also, he has started just one of Liverpool's seven Premier League matches, suggesting he is yet to win Iraola's complete trust.

But time is on his side and it would be churlish to suggest he is not making progress and improvement. After receiving the Player of the Match award, he made it clear his confidence on the right-hand side of Liverpool's attack is growing.

The teen said: "I think it's helped me a lot in training. The gaffer, all the coaching staff, all the players believe in me and slowly, slowly I'm getting better on the right."

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