By Paul Jones
Wales U19 star Lewis Koumas and his fellow Liverpool youngsters have been compared to Luke Littler by manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds boss likened the instant impact of his academy players to that of darts sensation Littler – but then asked for the youngsters to be given time to find their feet.
Koumas, 18, opened the scoring on debut as Southampton were beaten 3-0 to set up an FA Cup quarter-final at Manchester United.
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Fellow teen Jayden Danns scored his first two goals in only his third appearance to clinch the win.
As the son of former Wales midfielder and Premier League player Jason Koumas, who played for West Brom, Lewis will have a lot of experience to call on but Klopp said the youngsters should be allowed to do that out of the spotlight.
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Referencing Littler, who reached the World Darts Championship final at the age of 16, the German asked for perspective despite the youngsters’ key roles in a depleted side.
“It is little bit like the new darts sensation, it is fine for tonight. Tomorrow, leave the boys in the corner,” Klopp said.
“Everyone who is with us, we should have our moments, they will have more moments than we expect.
“All of it was obviously incredibly important. Against a Southampton team we would have had problems with anyway but in our situation we tried to give as much information as possible to them and we had to improve during the game.
“The first 15 minutes we were all over the place; we tried to press but the timing was horrendous and Southampton used that.
“We found a way into the game and the goal we scored was in a nearly perfect moment, it felt like a momentum change and then an exceptional finish from Lewis.
“We now had the momentum rather than Southampton and won a lot of high balls and scored, the play was special, the way we won the balls was special and something like that, as impossible as it seems, can happen.
“Maybe the people (fans) don’t forget it when the transfer window opens, don’t close the door (on young players) with 12 signings.”
LEWIS KOUMAS gives Liverpool the lead against Southampton. Thrust into first team action due to injuries, son of Wales and EFL legend Jason Koumas getting his career off to a flyer in his first professional start. ❤️pic.twitter.com/2UqlGAe9V1
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) February 28, 2024
On Danns, who came off the bench to score twice in 15 minutes to earn the man-of-the-match award, Klopp added: “Exceptional talent. Of course it is not natural that a boy 18, is as calm as you like. The second goal – calm as you like.”
“I don’t think 3-0 is a fair reflection of the game as we should have been one or two up before they got close to a goal,” he said.
“The difference in the game is the quality of the finishing and their goalkeeper making some brilliant saves.
“If we are ever going to lose, then let’s do it being the team we want to be and I can’t ask any more from them tonight.
“I really enjoyed watching my team but I am really hurt for them and the result as I didn’t think we deserved that.”
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