Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has addressed his performance against Villarreal and what the team are now doing differently under Andoni Iraola

Andoni Iraola is still getting his feet under the table as Liverpool head coach. But already the Basque has surpassed the final season of predecessor Arne Slot in one key aspect.

The rollercoaster 4-3 Champions League victory over Villarreal on Tuesday evening was the third time in 11 games this campaign the Reds have come from behind to win.

Indeed, it was the second game in succession in which Iraola's side achieved the feat, having fought back to secure a 2-1 Premier League triumph at Brentford on Saturday having last month done likewise at home to Atletico Madrid.

Only twice last season did Liverpool successfully overturn a deficit, while the draws when in arrears against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest in August mean they have already matched such recoveries over the entirety of the previous term.

And while there is ongoing concern over the manner in which the Reds are making life difficult for themselves, they are beginning to show much greater strength of character and resilience under Iraola.

“Definitely," said captain 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 poor opening to which Van Dijk was referring saw him gift Georges Mikautadze the chance to give Villarreal an early lead that was doubled before the half-hour by Sergi Cardona.

"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."

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Liverpool once again demonstrated their increased appetite for pressing under Iraola, particularly during the second half when, having drawn level by half-time, they took the game away from Villarreal.

And Van Dijk believes the shift to a more aggressive style is more in keeping with what is expected from supporters. "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 are now almost halfway through a schedule of nine games in 29 days which continues with the Premier League visit of in-form Brighton on Sunday.

“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, playing on the right flank, posted his best performance for Liverpool on Tuesday in providing assists for Ronald Araujo to equalise and Alexis Mac Allister to put the Reds ahead.

And with previous influence Mohamed Salah having left in the summer, Van Dijk has detailed how the more experienced members of the squad have now taken Ngumoha under their wing.

“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."