Lewis Koumas says going over to thank the Liverpool fans after his performance in the Champions League win against LASK “meant absolutely everything” to him. The academy forward scored and assisted in the 6-3 victory, starting for the second time this season while deputising for the injured first-team forwards.
It was a breakthrough moment: Koumas had not scored in his first six appearances for Liverpool, despite several chances. In Linz, he finally opened his account and added an assist in the same match.
The double made him only the second 21-year-old ever to score and assist in a Champions League fixture, with Steven Gerrard having been the first. “It’s not a bad name to be alongside,” Koumas told The Telegraph. “What a legend. I just want more of this. Yes I’m loving how things are going, but this is also my job. I need to get goals and assists.”
He also reflected on nearly missing out on the breakthrough. “I would have been gutted if the game had ended without a goal, after having two ruled out for offside. I just kept going because I knew the more the game was going on, it was opening up.”
The reaction of the Anfield fans at the end of the match was what struck him most. “They are the reason we do this,” he said. “I wish I could have got in there with them but there was a big metal cage in my way.”
Whether Koumas starts against Brentford depends on the fitness of Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo, both of whom are doubts.
Sources
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