Billy Koumetio can become latest contender in Liverpool’s first-team battle

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Billy Koumetio is on the brink of inserting himself into a first-team battle at Liverpool. The teenager could start against FC Midtjylland today.

Could Billy Koumetio make his first-team debut today? It seems very possibly. After all, he left his game for the U18s at half-time this weekend in what looked like a planned substitution.

Jurgen Klopp will surely rotate his team heavily, too. Liverpool are already through in their group and have a busy fixture list ahead. It makes sense to rest the stars and play kids.

Koumetio would be near the front of the queue in that regard. He’s a player with a reputation already, with Klopp labelling him a ‘big talent’ back in September.

And it Koumetio does start, he can insert himself into the club’s toughest battle.

Opportunity knocks

Liverpool are in the midst of an injury crisis, particularly at the back. Both Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez are out long-term, leaving just Joel Matip and Fabinho.

Matip, however, has injury problems of his own. Fabinho has been out, too, while he’s not actually a centre-half.

So there are opportunities there. We’ve seen both Rhys Williams and Nat Phillips get first-team games as they fight for more recognition at the club.

And this fierce battle could feature Koumetio, too, if he performs against Midtjylland.

He needs to be picked first, of course, but that looks reasonably likely. And from there, he just needs a solid performance to put his name forward.

If Klopp can trust him, then Koumetio isn’t just a first-team option but someone the club can invest in. Give him games now and he can use the experience to improve rapidly.

It’s how Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones kicked on out of the youth teams, after all. They got chances through injuries and never looked back. Once they were in the setup, Liverpool needed to play them often to fulfil their potential.

So Koumetio, too, can be in that group. He’s got the potential, he just needs the games. Firstly, however, he must prove that he is ready for the senior team.

Do that and Koumetio is firmly in the battle for first-team football during this injury crisis.