Andoni Iraola hails ‘contagious’ Liverpool youngster for impact in Spurs win | OneFootball

Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola praised his young fringe players for their contribution to the 3-1 Carabao Cup third-round win over Tottenham.

The Basque said the energy of man-of-the-match Lewis Koumas, son of former Tranmere and West Brom midfielder Jason, was “contagious”.

Koumas, in only his fifth appearance, was deployed as centre-forward with £125million British record signing Alexander Isak rested on the bench and the 20-year-old was a constant menace for the Spurs defence in his 86 minutes.

But there were also solid performances for 22-year-old James McConnell, in his 14th game, fellow midfielder Trey Nyoni, 19, and winger Rio Ngumoha.

“I was happy for them. Different positions, different demands but I think the best thing is they were dead when I subbed them,” said Iraola, who made 10 changes from Saturday’s flat goalless draw against Fulham.

“Trey was cramping, Rio couldn’t have run a lot more. McConnell the same. When this happens, it’s because you’ve given us what you’ve got.

“They have been very athletic, willingness to win their duels, making their presence felt. I was happy for them.”

On Koumas he added: “I see him training every day. He knows very clearly what he needs to do, what the team needs and also the energy he shows is contagious for the rest.

open image in gallery

Lewis Koumas was a bundle of energy on the night (Getty)

“When you see the runs up front, giving everything, you are kind of forced to go behind and use the same intensity levels. I am very happy for him.”

A star-studded bench featured new signings Bradley Barcola, Victor Munoz and Jeremy Jacquet – a £220million trio – Alisson Becker and Dominik Szoboszlai.

And it needed the intervention of the latter with a stunning strike in added time once Conor Gallagher pulled a goal back, after Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo had put the hosts 2-0 up.

“It’s true that I made a lot of changes but I think I needed to do it because we could see the other day that we lacked a bit of energy the other day and we needed fresh legs,” Iraola said.

“I am happy because all the players have given us intensity and aggressiveness. I think we have been good during lots of parts of the game and also happy because we deserved to win the game and earned the right to be in the next round.”

Although Tottenham head coach Roberto De Zerbi saw his side score – something they have failed to do in the Premier League this season – he knows there has to be an improvement.

open image in gallery

Roberto De Zerbi knows his side need to improve (Getty)

“We have to shoot more times and we have to shoot better and we have to finish better the clear situations but we are sorry for the result, disappointed, frustrated,” he said.

“We have to be stronger in these unlucky moments because I am honest with myself and with you. I think this five or six games we have been for sure not lucky.

“I believe in my players, I have a big opinion of them and when we arrive to finally click to win a game we will enjoy it with these players because the look of the players is incredible.

“It is a tough moment but we have to be stronger.”