Matchday Magic: Liverpool’s Young Heroes Rise

The Stage Is Set

Well the team sheet came in and there was no Salah, Szoboszlai, Nunez or Endo even in the squad. Joe Gomez was playing number six and to be honest as much as the fans rendition of YNWA was on it from the first whistle, Liverpool looked like they still had a hangover from the Sunday to begin with.

Southampton’s white and blues were dominating, whilst an Irishman in green was keeping us in it before a young man in red with a Welsh international father decided to make himself a new hero. We look at the lessons learned from a Wednesday night cup game at Anfield where we can’t stop talking about how special these kids are.

Another Kid, Another Hero

He was probably happy for his mates Jayden Danns, Bobby Clark and James McConnell’s heroics at Wembley, but it would be understandable if Lewis Koumas was a little bit envious. The son of former Welsh international Jason has been highly touted as a real prospect for some time in the youth ranks, but he came alive for the first team and on his first appearance scored the opening goal of the game.

It’s fair to say a deflection off Jack Stephens was slightly fortuitous, but if you don’t buy a ticket you don’t win the raffle as they say. He could even have had a penalty in the first half too, but what a moment for a lad who’s been in the academy since eleven.

And Another One….Well Two

Having watched his pals Bobby Clark and Lewis Koumas shine before his introduction, Jayden Danns decided it was his time to shine. Having belted out YNWA after the win on Sunday, the academy product raised the roof off Anfield when his run was found by Harvey Elliott’s through ball and he lifted it over the Southampton keeper.

It’s always special to get your first goal at Anfield and even better in front of the Kop end too. He wasn’t finished though and his second when he reacted first to Bradley’s saved shot showed a real poachers instinct. With his frame and instincts it looks like the reds have a real talent on their hands here. Viva La AXA.

Kelleher Outrageous Again

It’s understandable that the focus will be on the likes of Danns, Koumas, Clark etc and that’s the way he’d want it. However, for the second game in a row and another cup tie, Liverpool had their Irish goalkeeper to thank more than once for keeping them in it.

He’s quietly morphed into Allison Becker and he kept out Southampton through Mara and especially Sulemana a number of times to keep the reds in it during the first period. Liverpool’s number two is better than most clubs first choice and he’s been the man of the match in the last two for me. He’s more than stepped up when we’ve needed him.