Liverpool have an ‘outstanding’ 16-year-old to watch after four-goal haul, ‘hard not to’ try him as a striker

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Liverpool will continue to try Lewis Koumas as a striker, says Marc Bridge-Wilkinson. The teenager just bagged four goals.

16-year-old Lewis Koumas put his name in lights this weekend as he scored four times for Liverpool’s Under 18s. That’s an impressive feat for anyone his age.

What makes it all the more notable, though, is that Koumas isn’t a natural striker. He’s played just about everywhere, in fact, and certainly isn’t down in the squad as a no.9.

“He’s played in wide positions, as a midfielder, he’s even played at full-back for different age groups and he has played as a No 9 as well, but I don’t think he has ever played there consistently,” coach Marc Bridge-Wilkinson said, per the Athletic. “I’ve told him well done. He obviously deserves a lot of credit. It was a fantastic performance.”

But it sounds as though this could be the start of something. Koumas impressed in the role about as well as you possible can – and may be set for more.

“It would be hard not to [keep him there],” said Bridge-Wilkinson. “What did he score? Four? It was an outstanding performance.”

Lewis Koumas impresses as a striker

This is one to watch, then, as the Athletic’s article makes it every clear that Koumas has always had his admirers coming through the ranks. Four goals as you’re still learning to play as a striker is something that should raise eyebrows – another couple of displays like that and we’ll get excited.

But you’ve always got to remember just how difficult it is to translate Under 18 form to higher levels. We’ve seen them come through before in recent years, with Paul Glatzel, Layton Stewart and now Oakley Cannonier scoring for fun.

Glatzel and Stewart haven’t replicated their form with the U23s, though (now Under 21s). Injuries have simply held them back and made it almost impossible. We’ll see what this year holds, of course.

Cannonier is the latest bright young goalscorer to come through the ranks. There is understandably a lot of hype about him after 28 goals last season. But again, we’ll have to see if that form translates up a level.

Because the reality is, Liverpool haven’t produced a striker for their first-team in a very long time. Neil Mellor was the last that comes to mind and he never truly broke into the side.

Michael Owen might have been the last to truly establish themselves – and that was 25 years ago. It’s a horrendous stat but one that, hopefully, someone like Koumas or Cannonier can put right sometime soon.