What it takes to impress Andoni Iraola and function effectively in his front line was also apparent from Koumas\u2019s performance against Spurs. The Liverpool head coach had aimed a pre-match dig at more decorated, expensive names when calling for better pressing and tenacity from his forwards in light of Saturday\u2019s flat draw with Fulham<\/a>. Koumas was not part of that conversation but, as he worked himself to a standstill against the Spurs defence, creating space and opportunities for others to exploit, it seemed the 20-year-old had taken Iraola\u2019s comments to heart as well as on board.<\/p>\n \u201cThe energy he shows is contagious,\u201d Iraola said. \u201cI\u2019m very happy for him. He does it in training every day. He is very clear what he needs to do, what the team needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Koumas, who celebrates his 21st birthday on Saturday, the day before Liverpool<\/a> travel to Bournemouth, Iraola\u2019s former club, took the compliment in his humble, studious stride. \u201cHow I play is ultimately the Liverpool way,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019ve always been a club where players have to give absolutely everything on the pitch. We\u2019re bringing that back now and the crowd are loving it.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of it is about what I do off the ball. The gaffer has shown trust to me that I can carry out his plans in terms of how we want to play tactically. I was happy to do that for him. It gives me so much motivation the fact he\u2019s putting me in for a game like this. I want to kick on now.\u201d<\/p>\n Lewis Koumas came close to scoring in the first half against Spurs at Anfield. Photograph: Michael Regan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n Iraola placed trust in the Chester\u2011born forward within weeks of his arrival this summer, informing Liverpool\u2019s then sporting director, Richard Hughes, that he wanted Koumas in the first\u2011team squad and not sent out on loan again. Having impressed on the pre-season tour of the US, Koumas, the son of the former Tranmere and West Brom playmaker Jason, has made his first appearances in the Premier League and Champions League as a substitute and now has a first man of the match award at senior level.<\/p>\n Could he have imagined that at the start of pre-season? \u201cNo, I would have woken up,\u201d the Wales international says. \u201cI would have thought I was dreaming. I\u2019m just really happy and very grateful for the opportunities I\u2019ve been given. You never know when your last time on the pitch for Liverpool is going to be. I just try to leave everything out there every time.\u201d<\/p>\n
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