Steven Gerrard believes Lewis Koumas showed against Manchester City that he should be part of the first-team squad at Liverpool. Koumas made his first Premier League start for the Reds against Enzo Maresca’s side at Anfield on Sunday afternoon.
Debut start for Koumas
The 21-year-old led the line for Andoni Iraola’s side in the absence of Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak, supported by Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz. Koumas was replaced by Rio Ngumoha with 15 minutes remaining as his side were beaten 3-0 with all three goals coming after Ryan Gravenberch was sent off.
And although Gerrard believes there are elements to Koumas’ game that he needs to improve, he couldn’t be more proud of how the academy graduate performed against the current Premier League leaders.
Gerrard's verdict
“I came through Liverpool's academy with his dad,” he said on The Overlap Daily, brought to you by Sky Bet. “His dad was an awesome player, two-footed, different type of midfielder, Jason Koumas.
“I had some great days with him when we were young kids, when football was fun, before it becomes serious. Unbelievable player, great family.
"Delighted for him, and I'm an academy boy. Roots. I love seeing young kids get opportunities and take them, and he was thrown in at the deep end yesterday. I know he's had a couple of pockets of minutes, but yesterday was Man City at home.
“What a game for your first Premier League start. And you know what, he'd done himself proud, he'd done the academy proud.
“He was a little bit loose at times, so there's a lot to work on, a lot of potential there. But in terms of rolling your sleeves up, being up for it, fighting for your team, representing the supporters, representing the academy, he didn't look like an academy player out there, he played like a man.
“I'm proud of him. I really am. I'm delighted that he took his chance. And what he showed me as a Liverpool fan yesterday is he can be part of this group moving forward, because he will improve.
"And if you get the right coaching around him and they don't just allow him to be part of a team, improve him individually and let him be part of our squad, I think there's a future for him."
