Lewis Koumas is fast becoming one of the stories of Liverpool’s season under Andoni Iraola.
The 20-year-old forward, once expected to leave Anfield permanently this summer, has instead forced his way into first-team contention.
UK ONLY
Koumas has featured in four of Liverpool’s opening matches this term. That run has included a Premier League debut off the bench against Newcastle United and a Champions League debut against Atletico Madrid at Anfield.
He started up front in Liverpool’s 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Monday night, one of ten changes made by Iraola.
His energy stood out in a match where youth prospered, with Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scoring before Dominik Szoboszlai settled it with a stoppage-time strike, after Conor Gallagher had pulled one back for Spurs.
Iraola has made his admiration for Koumas clear. Speaking to reporters on Friday, the Liverpool head coach revealed he decided within a week of taking charge that the Wales international should stay all season.
“I had very few doubts,” Iraola said. “He is someone who covers us on the No. 7, No. 9, No. 10, No. 11. He trains very well, good attitude, good player, scores goals.”
The head coach also praised Koumas’s team-first mentality. “He has it very clear what he needs to do, and what he needs to do is help the team,” Iraola said.
“Sometimes it’s going to be on the ball, sometimes it’s going to be without the ball, sometimes it’s going to be attacking the spaces for someone else to receive the ball. He understands this. When you have this mentality, normally it’s good for the team.”
Koumas has now become one of two Liverpool players, alongside Ryan Gravenberch, to have made three appearances off the bench so far this season.
His breakthrough has added extra weight to comments he made about the player he credits most for shaping his game.
Asked which team-mate he had learned the most from, Koumas picked former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz without hesitation.
“Yeah, I think I’d definitely say Lucho [Luis Diaz],” Koumas said. “I used to love him. I think I’ve said in an interview before. He was my favourite player when he was here. So, I was always watching trying to adapt bits of his into my game.”
Diaz left Liverpool for Bayern Munich in a deal worth up to €75 million last summer.
Koumas has previously described the Colombian as his “idol,” saying during a loan spell at Stoke City that he would study his movement and try to bring elements of it into his own play.
Koumas came through Liverpool’s academy and spent recent seasons on loan at Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull City, the last of which helped secure promotion to the Premier League.
Arne Slot did not use him during his time as Liverpool manager, before he was replaced by Iraola in June, making his rise this season all the more notable.
Support DaveOCKOP and enjoy the site completely ad-free. You’ll get an uninterrupted browsing experience while helping us continue to deliver the latest Liverpool news, breaking stories and exclusives. Go ad-free today.