{
  "id": 15794938,
  "title": "Worst start of Iraola era? Virgil van Dijk howler gifts Villarreal shock opener as ‘lazy’ Liverpool capitulate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/worst-start-of-iraola-era-virgil-van-dijk-howler-gifts-villarreal",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-20T20:11:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/virgil-van-dijk-howler-gifts-192542671.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Anfield fell silent as Virgil van Dijk's disastrous error gifted Villarreal the lead in the Champions League clash. The Liverpool captain misjudged his header, allowing Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze to capitalize and finish past Alisson. Van Dijk's third error of the match's opening moments left Liverpool's back four struggling. Mikautadze's goal came within the first 40 seconds, leaving the Spanish side to double their lead within half an hour through Sergi Cardona. The match marked the worst start of Iraola's tenure, with Liverpool's performance being described as \"lazy\" by Shearer. Despite a rocky start, Liverpool managed to level the score through goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Ronald Araujo before halftime.",
  "summary": "Van Dijk completely misjudged his header back to goalkeeper Alisson to give Villarreal a shock lead",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Liverpool team news v Villarreal: Nyoni and Ngumoha start, Isak and Wirtz benched among 6 changes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/liverpool-team-news-v-villarreal-nyoni-and-ngumoha-start-isak-and",
        "published": "2026-10-20T18:02:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "UCL: Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 in seven-goal thriller",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ucl-liverpool-beat-villarreal-4-3-in-seven-goal-thriller",
        "published": "2026-10-20T22:00:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "‘Ruthless’ teen Ngumoha inspires Liverpool comeback in Champions League",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ruthless-teen-ngumoha-inspires-liverpool-comeback-in-champions-league",
        "published": "2026-10-20T22:07:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport Football",
        "title": "The night 'ruthless' Ngumoha came of age for Liverpool",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/the-night-ruthless-ngumoha-came-of-age-for-liverpool",
        "published": "2026-10-20T22:56:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}