Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard heaped praise on Lewis Koumas. The academy youngster made a surprise start at Anfield against Manchester City, and despite Liverpool's poor overall performance, the former Reds captain believes the academy product is talented enough to become part of the club's first-team plans.

Anfield legend gives high praise

With key attackers Gakpo and Isak absent, Koumas made his Premier League debut start, directly facing Manchester City under Maresca. This was a huge test for the young player, and he withstood the pressure in a difficult match environment. Liverpool ultimately lost 0-3, and Koumas, who was substituted after 75 minutes for Ngumoha, was one of the few bright spots. Gerrard admitted that the forward is still technically raw but already possesses the competitive spirit required for top-flight football.

"I came through the Liverpool academy with his father, Jason Koumas. His father was an extremely talented player, versatile, and a unique midfielder. We have many fond memories from our youth when football was less demanding. He was a remarkable player, and the whole family is great."

Facing a strong opponent, the youngster proves himself

For a player making his first start, playing against Manchester City is no easy task, but Koumas was not intimidated by the big-game atmosphere. Gerrard particularly admired his fighting spirit and commitment on the field.

"I am genuinely happy for him. I also came through the academy and value that connection. I love to see young lads seize the opportunities given to them. Yesterday, he was thrown straight into a tough battle. He had only seen sporadic playing time before, and his debut was at home against Manchester City. The difficulty of such a maiden start is unimaginable. But he proved himself and brought honor to the Liverpool academy."

Bright future for academy youngster

Gerrard stated that Koumas still has many technical details to refine, but with continued careful development from the club, he can have a successful professional career. The key is to provide the Welsh youngster with targeted individual training to help him transition from a promising talent to a regular Premier League starter.

"Some of his touches are still a bit loose, and there's a lot to polish, but the potential is huge. His tackling, fighting spirit, willingness to fight for the team, and his sense of responsibility representing the fans and the academy – he doesn't play like an academy kid at all; he plays like a seasoned professional. I'm really proud of him. As a Liverpool fan, what I saw yesterday was that he can definitely be a part of this team in the future, and he will continue to improve."

Carragher also praises Koumas

Gerrard was not the only one impressed by the youngster's performance. Carragher also commented that Koumas and Victor Muñoz performed better than two of the team's £100 million-plus signings. He criticized the expensive new arrivals for not providing enough support to the two young players.

"We need Barcola and Wirtz to step up and help Muñoz and Koumas in attack. Koumas and Muñoz performed better than the two £100 million players, which shouldn't happen. After Liverpool went down to 10 men, everyone in the stadium could see it clearly."

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