Liverpool analysis – Jurgen Klopp now has a fresh first-team option as the secret is revealed

Klopp children are more than alright

According to the Liverpool Echo, the Voice of Anfield spoke for everyone within the stadium. George Sephton felt compelled to play The Who’s popular song “The Kids Are Alright” both before the game and during halftime. And the evidence shows that they very certainly are. After helping Liverpool to an incredible League Cup final victory against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium, the Reds’ Academy graduates were called upon once more as the constant churn of matches brought an FA Cup fifth-round meeting at home to Southampton.

Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Dominik Szoboszlai may have been well enough to attend the festivities on Sunday, but they were among the 14 senior players who did not play. Along with Bobby Clark and James McConnell’s starts, 18-year-old striker Lewis Koumas, son of former Wales and Tranmere Rovers player Jason, made his senior debut.

The youngster, who has scored regularly for both the under-18s and U21s this season, has been on Jurgen Klopp’s radar since he was prominently involved in pre-season training. And, if his debut goal was assisted by a deflection from Jan Bednarek, Koumas had earned it via his eagerness to constantly attack the Southampton defenders.

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He was greeted warmly when he was replaced just after the hour by Jayden Danns, who has recently been pushed into the first-team picture owing to a lack of available players. He, like Koumas, took advantage of the opportunity. Twice, in fact. The striker first exhibited wonderful calm by converting Harvey Elliott’s throughball, and then reacted quickly after Conor Bradley’s attempt was parried. Both in front of the Kop.

Danns currently has 23 points in 24 competitive games across all levels for Liverpool this season. As the cliché goes, the size and position of the goals remains same regardless of level. And the striker knows just where it is. It was the first time two 18-year-olds scored in the same game for Liverpool’s first team. To think that both Koumas and Danns were originally scheduled to play in the FA Youth Cup quarterfinals against Leeds United on Thursday night.

Trey Nyoni, who was 16 years and 243 days old, may still become Liverpool’s youngest FA Cup participant and the third-youngest player ever. He was also the 89th player to make their debut under Klopp. The kids are doing really well. And, with the injury problem showing no signs of easing, they will be necessary.