Jurgen Klopp is able to give players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold a break because Liverpool has already qualified for the round of sixteen in the Europa League.
Jurgen Klopp is contemplating giving Lewis Koumas his first appearance for Liverpool in the Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday.
In preparation for their last group match against Belgium, the forward, who is only 18 years old, has been named in the 23-man team. Because the Reds have already secured the top spot in Group E, they have already qualified for the round of sixteen of the tournament. This gives Klopp the opportunity to rest numerous first-team regulars for the match on Sunday.
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At Anfield, Liverpool, who are currently in the lead for the Premier League title fight, will compete against Manchester United, who are their fiercest rivals. There are a number of players that are remaining in England, including Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and captain Virgil van Dijk. Alexis Mac Allister is now recovering from an injury however.
Due to the fact that Koumas is the son of Jason, a former Premier League star, his name will be familiar to a great number of fans. The father of the young player was a Premier League player who played for West Brom and Wigan. Between the years 2001 and 2009, the offensive midfielder won 34 senior caps for Wales.
As a member of the English Football League, Koumas Sr., who is 44 years old, also played for Tranmere and Cardiff. In reality, he began his professional career with Liverpool, where he participated in the club’s youth program alongside legendary players such as Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. In 1998, he made the move to Tranmere.
While the former Premier League player was never given the opportunity to play for Liverpool, his son may have the opportunity to do so. As a member of Klopp’s squad for the match, Koumas will be aiming to be selected for the starting lineup. The kid has been a member of Liverpool’s roster ever since he was brought in from Tranmere in the year 2016.
Over the course of this season, Koumas has participated in three matches for Liverpool’s Under-23 team in the EFL Trophy. These matches have taken place against Morecambe, Barrow, and Bradford. Additionally, he made his debut for Wales last year at the Under-19 level. Chester, an English town that is located on the border of Wales, is where he was born.
During the month of July, Koumas was given the opportunity to practice with Liverpool’s first-team squad, during which he disclosed his determination to make his debut. I can’t stop talking about it. “To tell you the truth, ever since I was a kid, it has been my dream to be a part of the first team,” he said on the website of Liverpool.
“If I’m being completely honest, in this very moment it feels like I’m hiding behind a screen. Observing players who are a source of inspiration to me, such as Luis Diaz, whom I remember watching during the previous season at Anfield, and now I am rooting for him… I have to come here and demonstrate to the management what I am capable of doing.
It goes without saying that if I am given the chance to make my debut, I will do so with the intention of attempting to score a goal. That would be the perfect opportunity for me to make my debut with the first team. Considering that this might be the only chance I have, I need to make sure that I make the most of it.
The traveling party for Liverpool’s match against Union SG includes Koumas, who is the youngest member of the group. Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon, two outstanding teenage wingers, are also featured in this match. Luke Chambers, a left-back who is 19 years old and who debuted for them in their 5-1 victory over Toulouse in October, is also included.
There is a possibility that Jarell Quansah may start with Conor Bradley, a right-back who is 20 years old and spent the previous season on loan at Bolton. In addition to having previously received thirteen senior caps for Northern Ireland, Bradley is now Bolton’s reigning Player of the Year. He has also appeared in five matches so far this season.
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Tom Hill, who appeared in his first game for the senior team four years ago, is also a member of the team. Following knee surgery in September of 2020, the 21-year-old midfielder was sidelined for a period of twenty months to recover from the procedure. James McConnell, who is 19 years old, is yet another bright midfielder who is part of the traveling party.
Another player who has traveled to Belgium is Calum Scanlon, a left-back who is 18 years old and made his debut in October. In the event that Caoimhin Kelleher sustains an injury, the young goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga and Fabian Mrozek, both of whom are 20 years old, will be on standby.
In spite of the fact that Klopp has selected representatives from Liverpool’s thriving youth program for the trip to Belgium, he has also included a number of veteran players in his squad. There will be a number of individuals involved on Thursday, including Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo.
Several players, including Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Alisson, have been given a break in preparation for the match that will take place at Anfield this coming weekend against Manchester United.