“It was a good feeling” – Liverpool forward shares heartwarming moment

“It was a good feeling” – Liverpool forward shares heartwarming moment Lewis Koumas Ready to Seize His Liverpool Chance Under Andoni Iraola There is something refreshing about a young player who understands the size of the shirt and still wants more. Lewis Koumas sounds like one of those lads. No noise, no fuss, no grand declarations, just a clear determination to force his way into the picture at Liverpool under Andoni Iraola. For academy players, a summer of change can bring uncertainty as much as opportunity. New manager, new ideas, new pecking order. You either convince him quickly or you find yourself looking over your shoulder. Koumas knew that. He felt it through pre-season, even if he did not know exactly where he stood at first. As he put it to liverpoolfc.com , “I was definitely still on my toes! I think it was sort of towards the end of the pre-season trip in America where I got the hint that I was going to be staying. It was a good feeling.” That says plenty. Iraola clearly saw something in him early on, but the player himself never relaxed. That is a good sign. At Liverpool, comfort can be dangerous. The standards are too high for that. “My intentions were definitely to try to impress the manager, of course, I think that’s what we all want to do. “It was sort of a kick-on year for me, so I knew that it was going to matter a lot. A new manager, obviously a great opportunity and it looks OK so far. “Obviously it’s been a bit of a crazy two weeks, Premier League and Champions League debut, but I’m just really happy with how it’s going so far.” Andoni Iraola sees value in Lewis Koumas Koumas has already been introduced from the bench against Newcastle United, Ipswich Town and Atletico Madrid in the early weeks of the 2026-27 season. They are important minutes, not tokens. They tell you the manager trusts him to do a job in proper games. What seems to have caught Iraola’s eye is not only his talent, but his appetite. Koumas is versatile, energetic and willing to do the ugly side of the game. Managers love that. Supporters do too, especially at Anfield, where effort has always mattered. Koumas explained it neatly: “I think that’s just the sort of player that I am. I know what it means to play for Liverpool. So when I’m on the pitch, I’m going to try to leave everything out there every time.” Photo: IMAGO That is the right attitude, but he is also keen to show there is more to him than running and pressing. “I think I can impact games, definitely. I think the fans have just seen one side of the way I can impact the game, pressing around. “But I can also add a lot of quality to the game, I can finish, I can run in behind, I’ve got pace. I’m just looking to show those things now.” That is the next step. Work rate gets you noticed, quality keeps you there. Liverpool pathway shaped by valuable loan spells There was an early reminder of Koumas’ instinct in front of goal when he scored on his senior Liverpool debut against Southampton in the FA Cup. He was only 18 then, full of promise and playing on adrenaline. Since that night, reality has done its work. Loan spells at Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull City have toughened him up. Championship football has a way of stripping away illusions. It teaches young players how to compete, how to suffer and how to survive when the game gets scrappy. Koumas knows that. “I think the difference is massive,” he said. “I’m a lot more mature, I know what the game needs, I understand ultimately men’s football now. “I think that the last two years have been crucial in my development.” That is what you want to hear from a player coming back into the Liverpool environment. Not hype, not entitlement, just an understanding that the hard yards matter. Carabao Cup chance could be next step With Tottenham Hotspur next up in the Carabao Cup, Koumas may get another opening in a side that will need depth, freshness and hunger across a packed schedule. These are the nights when squad players can become genuine options. And Koumas appears to grasp the stakes. “I think any time you’re on the pitch for Liverpool, you can’t take it for granted,” he says. “Because with the quality around you, you don’t know whether it’s going to be your last. “So, to leave everything out there every game and try to affect it as much as I can is the plan. “I feel ready, I feel good every day. I’m maximising my recovery as much as I can after the training sessions and the games. So, [I’m] just always ready.” There is no romance in that, only professionalism. It matters. League Cup memory driving trophy ambition Koumas already has a taste for silverware after being part of the Liverpool squad that won the League Cup in 2024. That memory has stayed with him. “[My medal] is in a frame on the wall. It was the first thing I did. It was crazy being there, to be honest, and getting a medal was just a really nice touch. “I think all the players we had on the pitch were so young and how well they’d done was just really, really inspiring. “I think we’re definitely setting out to win trophies this season, so hopefully that’s what we can do.” That is where Liverpool should always be looking. If Koumas can add substance to the promise, he may yet have a proper part to play in that pursuit. He has stayed on his toes. Now comes the harder bit, making sure he cannot be ignored.