Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola has discussed his reasoning behind keeping Welsh forward Lewis Koumas at Anfield this season, as the club prepares for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Fulham at Anfield.
Koumas earned a place in Liverpool’s first-team squad after Iraola reached a decision within his first week at the club.
The 20-year-old academy graduate from Kirkby made his Champions League appearance in midweek, entering play as a late substitute during the 2-1 home victory over Atletico Madrid.
The young attacker previously made his Premier League debut when he came on at Newcastle United during the opening weekend, entering as a 78th-minute replacement.
He also featured briefly in the recent 2-0 success at Ipswich Town.
Koumas’s sole previous Liverpool appearance came when he scored during an FA Cup victory over Southampton in February 2024.
That performance came shortly after he had been named in the matchday squad for the League Cup final triumph against Chelsea.
The Wales international spent time on loan at Championship clubs Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull City, with another temporary transfer anticipated before Iraola chose to retain him at Anfield.
Iraola explained that during his initial week at the club, he communicated to Liverpool that Koumas would remain for the entire campaign.
The coach noted the youngster trains well, displays a positive attitude and possesses goalscoring ability.
While acknowledging that Koumas must continue developing as all young players must, Iraola highlighted the valuable experience the forward gained competing in the Championship at a high level.
The Liverpool manager stated that whether it was the difficult away fixture at Newcastle while the team was trailing or the midweek Champions League win over Atletico, Koumas contributed positively and Iraola expressed satisfaction at having him available.
Regarding Koumas’s mentality, Iraola observed that the player understands clearly what is required to assist the team.
The coach explained that sometimes this involves actions with the ball, sometimes without it, and sometimes it means exploiting space to create opportunities for teammates.
Koumas is expected to feature among the substitutes for Saturday’s match against Fulham, while concerns remain over the fitness of Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, who sat out the Atletico fixture due to injury.
On-loan defender Ronald Araujo was among Liverpool’s standout performers during Wednesday’s match, particularly when he delivered an inventive backheel pass that set up Dominik Szoboszlai’s equalising goal.
Iraola suggested the Uruguayan has gained from a fresh environment after spending nearly a decade at Barcelona.
The Liverpool manager pointed out that Araujo is accustomed to high-pressure matches, Champions League competition, title challenges and representing a major institution.
However, the defender faces a significant challenge in adapting to a new language, as he does not speak English fluently.
Despite this, Iraola noted that Araujo receives strong support within the squad.
The Reds manager believes this change of scenery has benefited Araujo psychologically, as he required this kind of transition following an extended period at the Catalan club.
The defender’s on-field contributions have been strong, with Iraola acknowledging the difficulty of entering a match as a substitute centre-back while praising his solid performances against Newcastle and Nottingham Forest.