'I always want to play for Liverpool' | How Lewis Koumas grasped the opportunity of a lifetime

The Liverpool forward was part of the Hull City squad that earned promotion back to the Premier League by winning the Championship play-off final at Wembley in late May.

Less than a couple of weeks later, Koumas registered his first senior international goal for Wales, scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against Ghana.

With his loan spell at Hull at an end and an unforgettable international window done, it was time to think about his immediate future.

The day after Koumas’ goal for Wales, a new era began at Anfield with the appointment of Andoni Iraola as Liverpool’s head coach.

And, having spent the previous two seasons with Stoke City, Birmingham City and Hull, he sensed there was a chance for him to fulfil another dream: become a fully fledged first-team player at the club he has always loved.

The 21-year-old recalls to Liverpoolfc.com: “I felt like it could be a massive opportunity for me. I started looking into the sort of manager that he is and I feel like loads of my game is what he looks for in a player.

“The type of player he looks for to help his team is sort of my identity as a player, so I saw it as a real opportunity to come in and try to grab it.

“I think the last two years were massive for my development and they are all reasons why trust is being put in me now.

“In the summer I definitely felt like this was going to be the chance to see if I can do it, to see if I can break through here. So, the fact that it happened is a really nice touch and I’ve just got to keep working hard now.”

Focused and determined, Koumas knew he would have the chance to impress Iraola from the get-go.

He joined the U21s for the start of their pre-season training programme, which began a week earlier than the senior squad’s, and players involved were aware of Iraola’s intention to be present at their sessions.

“We knew that the gaffer was going to be there having a watch so I just made sure that there was no-one else out there working harder than me,” Koumas says.

“There was going be no-one out-training me and there was ultimately going to be no-one showing that they want to play for him more than I was.”

The new boss evidently liked what he saw as Koumas was included in the travelling squad for the pre-season tour of the USA.

He remembers: “It was a nice feeling to go away to America and then it was a couple of weeks in, maybe just at the end of the tour, when I was like, ‘Yeah, I think I’m going to be part of the first team,’ which was a really nice feeling.

“It was definitely more the gaffer’s actions, rather than words, that were giving me the hints that this could happen, that it’s genuinely a possibility, and I just carried on working hard, training hard and loads of minutes have come my way, which I’m really grateful for.”

Iraola has said he quickly knew Koumas would be part of his squad for this season and the forward is loving every minute of working with the Basque.

“The past two years were tough, there were loads of highs and loads of lows, but it all ultimately led to this moment and this time in my career so I was just really happy with the decision he made,” he states.

“Playing for him is really special – really, really special. You want to be out there on the pitch fighting for him because he fights for you. You want to play for him.

“Personally, I feel like it’s an unbelievable privilege to be playing for him because he could pick whoever he wants but he’s trusted me to go in there at certain times and go and do the job for him, which again I’m really grateful for.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to be playing for him and he’s definitely the sort of manager that you really want to help win games and help do well.”

Koumas is naturally inclined towards the energetic, high-intensity style of play Iraola wants his side to impose, but also highlights the level of tactical detail that underpins the head coach’s philosophy.

“I think him and his staff are really good at getting how they want to play across and the details they give before games are really, really good,” the forward says.

“They are good at communicating what they want to do and what they think because every game changes – we’re playing against different teams, different managers – so it’s really good the way they get their point over.

“The running is one part, being physically good enough to do what he wants, but then it’s the tactical side as well, which is really, really important.

“He focuses a lot on detail and certain things so I’m always looking to implement it when I can.”

Playing and training alongside world-class operators on a daily basis is an invaluable benefit, too.

Koumas continues: “It’s a really different insight now, being in the changing room with them is a really special feeling.

“Being with them every day, learning from them, trying to put bits of their game into mine, bits of their personality, because ultimately a lot of them have been at the top for however many years now. So, it’d be stupid if I wasn’t trying to take bits of their game and put it into mine.”

The No.67 reports that all of his teammates have been welcoming and helpful but cites captain Virgil van Dijk as a particularly influential figure.

“Everyone has been really good but the skipper has been really, really top with me,” he notes.

“Just before the games, in the games themselves and at half-time he will give me little bits of information that I need.

“An example I can give is just before the [Manchester] City game at Anfield, he gave me some really strong but nice few words, sort of: ‘This is where you want to be so let’s go and see how you can do in this sort of situation.’

“It’s always nice to have his arm around my shoulder.”

Iraola has described Koumas’ energy as ‘contagious’ and Liverpool supporters have immediately warmed to a local lad who is, at heart, one of them.

“I am ultimately just a massive Liverpool fan so it’s really special being out there and being able to play for the club,” the Wirral-born forward, who joined the club at U11 level, says.

“I’ll always give everything, I always leave everything out there and hopefully I can just do that many more times now.”

To date, Koumas has made 14 appearances and scored once for the Reds this season – the forward marking the occasion of his first Champions League start with a goal in the victory away to LASK.

“I don’t think there are words big enough to describe that sort of feeling!” he smiles.

“It was just unbelievable, Champions League night away and I put the ball in the back of the net. It was incredible and it’s something no-one can ever take away from me now.”

Back in February 2024, aged 18, Koumas netted on his first senior appearance for the club in an Emirates FA Cup win against Southampton at Anfield.

Life has changed since then, with plenty more career milestones having already been achieved.

Koumas, though, will not be resting on his laurels.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot of experience at club and international level for someone who has just turned 21,” he concludes.

“I just try to put everything I can into training every day so when it comes to the end of my career I can never look back and say I didn’t work hard enough or I didn’t put myself out there correctly or have the right mindset.

“And I always want to be in the Liverpool shirt. That’s always going to be in my words, I always want to play for Liverpool.

“But it’s time for us now to start winning titles again – league titles, European titles. I think that’s important. That’s what we all want to do and it’s what the fans want as well, and I think we’re more than capable of doing it.

“So, hopefully I can be part of all them exciting times ahead.”