Lewis Koumas’ strong start to the season kept going as he registered a goal and an assist in Liverpool’s under-21 team’s 3-0 victory over Southampton.
August 25, 2023, Snows Stadium, Premier League 2, Southampton U21s 0-3 Liverpool U21s
Goals: 6′ Koumas, 40′ Awe (OG), and 90+2′ Norris
The young Reds traveled to the south coast for a Friday night match, and Barry Lewtas made four changes to his team, including bringing Isaac Mabaya back into his starting lineup.
Several players from preseason were in the starting lineup, including Marcelo Pitaglua, Calum Scanlon, James McConnell, Melkamu Frauendorf, and Koumas.
It was the latter who gave the Reds a strong start with a cool finish inside the penalty area, which was made possible by Oakley Cannonier’s excellent high-press.
Jarell Quansah, who Jurgen Klopp referred to as “super-talented,” was once again absent from Liverpool’s defense, which the Saints put to the test. However, the Reds’ defense stood firm, and they scored the following goal.
The ball was forced to Mabaya and then Frauendorf after the Reds moved from back to front, and Zachariah Awe of the Saints converted Frauendorf’s cross.
Lewtas’ players displayed enthusiasm throughout the game, a performance that delighted both Klopp and Pep Lijnders and made the first-team’s guiding principles evident.
Throughout the second half, Pitaluga made a number of crucial stops to preserve the Reds’ clean sheet despite Frauendorf and McConnell both having opportunities to increase the lead.
However, the third goal didn’t come until two minutes after the normal 90-minute period, when Koumas assisted James Norris with a strong run into the penalty area and a cutback.
Norris only required one touch to score the U21s’ third goal, making it 3-0. The U21s have now won two and drawn one of their first three games.
Notably, Jay Spearing made his first appearance of the year as a substitute in the 82nd minute, continuing in his role as player-coach.
Pitaluga; Mabaya (Pilling 59′), Stephenson, Miles, and Scanlon for Liverpool U21s; McConnell (Pinnington, 90), Norris, and Hill (Spearing, 82); and Frauendorf, Koumas, and Cannonier (Davidson, 46) for the team.
No substitutions: Kelly
The following game will be played at Middlesbrough (H) on Sunday, September 3, at 2:00 PM (BST).
