Birmingham City and Stoke won’t believe this new Liverpool, Andoni Iraola twist | OneFootball

Lewis Koumas could be given an Anfield lifeline by the Reds' new head coach

Birmingham City and Stoke City will be hoping to build on mixed 2025/26 Championship campaigns this time around under Chris Davies and Mark Robins, especially with the division's play-off system being restructured.

Over the past decade or so, Blues and the Potters have been two of the EFL's biggest underachievers, with Birmingham showing no signs on the pitch when it comes to ending their 15-year exile from the Premier League, whilst Stoke have become perennial mid-table finishers since dropping out of the top-flight in 2018.

Last season, it was the Second City side who finished in a higher position of 10th, whilst the North Staffordshire outfit, despite a bright start to Mark Robins' first full season at the Bet365 Stadium, collapsed in the second half of the campaign to end 17th.

As such, both have endured mixed summer transfer windows so far, and both Davies and Robins will be hoping to add to their respective squads between now and the transfer deadline of September 1st, be it through permanent transfers or the loan market.

Yet, whilst fixtures between the two sides can have the potential to carry some form of needle, Bluenoses and Stoke fans will certainly be as shocked as each other to see developments coming out of Liverpool regarding former loan winger, Lewis Koumas.

Stoke City gave Lewis Koumas his first major exposure of senior football

Action Images

Koumas, of course, comes from a strong footballing background, with his father Jason, a cult hero in particular at West Bromwich Albion, whilst he has also been on Liverpool's books since the age of 11.

Despite being part of Jürgen Klopp's infamous 'Klopp's Kids' generation, which helped end the German's Anfield reign with an EFL Cup success, as well as featuring and scoring against Southampton in the FA Cup, it was Stoke who handed the Welsh international his first taste of regular football in 2024/25.

It was a difficult season for the Potters, as the man who courted Koumas' signature, Steven Schumacher, was replaced by Narcis Pelach in September 2024, before the Spaniard himself was sacked and replaced by Robins in the winter of said campaign.

Six goals and three assists in all competitions was not the worst return in the world for Koumas in his first loan, but Stoke fans weren't exactly thrilled by the youngster's performances, although it wouldn't be the last the Championship would see of the winger.

Lewis Koumas struggled to make an impact at Birmingham City

Action Images

12 months ago, after their record-breaking season in League One, Birmingham recruited 14 new signings, with Koumas one of those after the West Midlands side beat Sheffield United and Hull City to his services.

The Chester-born man admitted he was sold the "project" by staff behind-the-scenes at Blues, with his loan agreement initially for a full season, although it wouldn't exactly pan out that way.

Koumas debuted in a 2-0 loss against Leicester City, before going on to start in seven of his 25 appearances, with his solitary goal coming as the second in a 3-2 victory over champions, Coventry City, on January 4th.

After a difficult period, Davies stated he "needed" that goal to kick on, but less than three weeks later, he returned to Anfield and was sent out on loan to Hull, who won the play-offs, whilst Birmingham added the temporary services of Ibrahim Osman, whose loan stint appeared to be way more successful.

Lewis Koumas has returned to Liverpool with a point to prove

Action Images

Despite their unexpected promotion, Koumas failed to set the world alight at the MKM Stadium despite winning goals against Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and Wrexham.

As such, the man who netted his first Wales goal in June against Ghana has returned to Anfield with a point to prove in pre-season under Andoni Iraola, where he has also been heavily involved in pre-season.

Koumas played 281 minutes for the Reds in pre-season, a figure only bettered by six players, whilst impressing against AS Monaco and scoring against Sunderland in Nashville.

With the Merseyside outfit undergoing a reshuffle in attack following Mo Salah's exit, it has been claimed that Iraola has been impressed by the forward's showings, and could even retain his services as a squad player for his first season at the club, which begins competitively against Newcastle United at St James' Park.

Birmingham City and Stoke City fans wouldn't believe it if Lewis Koumas took Premier League chance

Action Images

Given his struggles for form in the Championship, those of a Stoke, Birmingham and Hull persuasion would be rather shocked to see Koumas become a Premier League regular at Anfield.

However, this time last year, Rio Ngumoha was an unknown to most people outside of Liverpool's setup, and has since earned praise from the likes of England boss, Thomas Tuchel, showing it isn't exactly impossible.

Meanwhile, throughout his coaching career, Iraola also has a strong track record when it comes to enhancing the development of young talents, such as former Bristol City playmaker, Alex Scott, who blossomed under the 44-year-old during his successful prior spell at AFC Bournemouth, which led him into the England senior setup for the first time.