The 2026-27 season is well underway, and Lewis Koumas has emerged as one of the breakout stars of Liverpool's campaign thus far after playing his way into Andoni Iraola's team
Andoni Iraola has entrusted Lewis Koumas with first-team action and the 21-year-old is taking his opportunity with both hands
Andoni Iraola has entrusted Lewis Koumas with first-team action and the 21-year-old is taking his opportunity with both hands(Image: Getty Images)
Lewis Koumas believed he was the perfect fit for Andoni Iraola’s system before even meeting the Liverpool manager.
Liverpool enter the international break in fourth place in the Premier League. It’s been an interesting start to the season, with the Reds appearing competitive both at home and abroad, aside from losses to Arsenal and Manchester City at Anfield.
One of the club’s biggest surprises of the season has come in the form of Koumas. He returned to Liverpool after a loan at Hull City last season, helping the Tigers to a playoff victory at Wembley. Koumas also scored his first international goal for Wales, striking in the last minute to level against Ghana.
But just one day after his milestone, Iraola was named the new head coach at Liverpool - and Koumas got to work learning what type of player the Spaniard might be looking for.
“I felt like it could be a massive opportunity for me. I started looking into the sort of manager that he is, and I feel like loads of my game is what he looks for in a player,” Koumas told Liverpoolfc.com.
“The type of player he looks for to help his team is sort of my identity as a player, so I saw it as a real opportunity to come in and try to grab it.
“I think the last two years were massive for my development, and they are all reasons why trust is being put in me now. In the summer, I definitely felt like this was the chance to see if I could do it, to see if I could break through here.
Lewis Koumas has made eight appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League this season
Lewis Koumas has made eight appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League this season(Image: Getty Images)
“So, the fact that it happened is a really nice touch, and I’ve just got to keep working hard now.”
After joining the U21s for the start of their pre-season training program, which began a week earlier than the senior squad’s, Koumas impressed Iraola, who immediately knew the 21-year-old would become part of his first-team set-up.
Koumas added: “The past two years were tough, there were loads of highs and loads of lows, but it all ultimately led to this moment and this time in my career so I was just really happy with the decision he made.
“Playing for him is really special – really, really special. You want to be out there on the pitch fighting for him because he fights for you. You want to play for him.
“Personally, I feel like it’s an unbelievable privilege to be playing for him because he could pick whoever he wants, but he’s trusted me to go in there at certain times and go and do the job for him, which again I’m really grateful for.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be playing for him and he’s definitely the sort of manager that you really want to help win games and help do well.”
Koumas is set to feature in Wales’ upcoming Nations League games against Norway and Portugal. He will then return to Liverpool ahead of the clash with Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday, Nov. 22.