Feel-good Koumas story gives Liverpool something to smile about
Lewis Koumas celebrated with Bradley Barcola in front of the travelling supporters in Linz after Liverpool’s 6-3 victory over LASK. Barcola had just completed a hat-trick and walked away with the match ball, but he knew Koumas had also found the net three times that night. Two of Koumas’s efforts were disallowed for offside, but his third attempt stood, giving him his first goal and assist in a Champions League appearance.
At 21 years old, Koumas became the youngest Liverpool player to score and assist in a Champions League game. The previous record holder was Steven Gerrard, who achieved the feat in 2001. When reminded of the comparison, Koumas asked, “Is that official?” He then added, “It’s not a bad stat, is it? And it’s not a bad name to be alongside. Wow. What a legend. I just want more of this.”
Despite the excitement, Koumas remained level‑headed. “This is my job,” he said. “I need to get goals and assists. I hadn’t had any before Linz so it was really important to get them.”
His journey to the first team began when he joined Liverpool at age 11. He made his senior debut at 18 under Jürgen Klopp and later spent loan periods at Stoke, Birmingham and Hull, where he helped Hull gain promotion. During the first week of pre‑season, Andoni Iraola earmarked Koumas for his plans. Koumas made his Premier League debut at Newcastle, appeared as a substitute against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League and was named man of the match in his first league start of the season versus Tottenham in the Carabao Cup after an energetic display that Iraola described as “contagious.”
After scoring his first goal of the season in Austria, Koumas video‑called his family, a routine he repeated after the Tottenham match. He said, “It was probably the best feeling in my career, 100%. I’m just really grateful to have the opportunity again.” He added, “I would not have been a happy man [if I didn’t score], I would have been gutted. I just kept going because I knew the more the game was going on, it was opening up.” Regarding the fans, he noted, “Going over to the fans at the end meant absolutely everything. They are the reason we do this and that we want this job. I wish I could have got in there with them, but there was a big metal cage in the way!”
The week had been intense for Koumas, the son of former Wales international Jason Koumas. He started two consecutive Liverpool games and came close to his first Premier League goal against Manchester City. With the score at 0-0, Barcola played him through, Koumas struck sweetly, but Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the effort in front of the Kop. Koumas admitted he was “absolutely gutted” that the ball did not cross the line. He said, “I couldn’t really sleep [on Sunday]. I just kept thinking about the chance all night. I feel like I couldn’t have hit it any better. The keeper is huge and he was just in the right place and I think in normal circumstances it goes in.”
Looking ahead, Koumas knows that returning players such as Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo will soon push for places. “You never know when your last game is going to be,” he said. “I know that sounds like a cl