Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has admitted to a 'terrible' start against Villarreal but hailed the Reds' resilience in coming back to win 4-3 in the Champions League under Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola is still finding his way as Liverpool head coach. Yet the Basque manager has already exceeded predecessor Arne Slot's final campaign in one crucial regard.

The dramatic 4-3 Champions League triumph over Villarreal on Tuesday night marked the third occasion in 11 matches this season the Reds have overturned a deficit to claim victory. In fact, it represented the second consecutive fixture in which Iraola's team pulled off such a turnaround, having battled back to seal a 2-1 Premier League win at Brentford on Saturday, and previously doing the same at home to Atletico Madrid last month.

Liverpool managed just two successful comebacks throughout last season, while the stalemates when trailing against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in August mean they have already equaled such recoveries across the whole of the prior campaign.

Despite lingering worries about how the Reds are complicating matters for themselves, they are starting to display considerably greater mental fortitude and determination under Iraola.

"Definitely," said skipper Virgil van Dijk. "Obviously we don't want to put ourselves in a position where you have to come back from anything and that's what I did from the start.

"But then there was the fightback and the moments we created because we have to remember Villarreal are a very good team on the ball and they showed that with a lot of movements and rotations on the ball. It wasn't a great first half but we got it turned around."

The shaky start to which Van Dijk referred saw him hand Georges Mikautadze the opportunity to put Villarreal ahead early on, with Sergi Cardona doubling the advantage before the half-hour mark.

"It was a terrible start," said the Netherlands international. "I think the saying is you fight an uphill battle and as a defender it is pretty difficult to come back from it. I tried but it was a bad day at the office personally but we do it together with 11 players.

"Fortunately it didn't happen too many times in my Liverpool career but I was not the best. But we won and it's not about me, it's all about us."

Liverpool once again showcased their heightened pressing intensity under Iraola, particularly throughout the second half when, having levelled by the break, they took complete control of the contest against Villarreal.

Van Dijk believes the transition towards a more combative approach better reflects what the club's supporters demand. "What the manager wants us to do is something which resonates with Liverpool and it is down to us to show us each and every game," he said.

"It's not easy, it's demanding but if you want to win games and win games in the Liverpool way then we have to do it. The first half was obviously not good at all and the second half was solid and we turned it around and that's a good sign.

"It is only October. We train a lot, tactically as well, but because there are so many games you learn playing games and Villarreal was a test in that sense."

Liverpool is now approaching the midpoint of a demanding run of nine fixtures across 29 days, which continues with Sunday's Premier League clash against high-flying Brighton.

"It's an important run for sure," said Van Dijk. "We are also coming to a period now, especially November-December, when I think you can see who will be challenging for certain places.

"But our full focus is on the game ahead of us, that should always be the case. Brighton are flying high and it will be a tough one."

Teenage winger Rio Ngumoha, operating on the right, delivered his finest display for Liverpool on Tuesday, setting up goals for Ronald Araujo's equaliser and Alexis Mac Allister's strike that put the Reds in front.

And with former talisman Mohamed Salah having departed during the summer, Van Dijk has revealed how the squad's senior figures have stepped up to mentor Ngumoha.

"A few senior players, I would say Cody (Gakpo) is definitely part of that," he said. "But everyone has that role in order to help the youngsters in the group, the players who have not had so much experience.

"Everyone is chipping in but for him to work with Mo last year was obviously massive as Mo was one of the best wingers at the club and experienced everything, so why not soak in all the information and show it on the pitch and show your own qualities?

"I think Rio has shown it this season but there is still much more to come. He's pretty electric at times and he showed it again on Tuesday. He was a complete threat constantly and their defender had a tough time."