It’s a whole new attacking line for Liverpool’s under-18s this season, including two summer signings, and it hasn’t taken them long to find a way to score.
Every season, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson welcomes a number of new faces to his under-18 group, but this time there seem to be more than usual.
In fact, only three regular starters from last season have remained in their duties at the start of the new campaign, who are goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek, captain Terence Miles and midfielder James McConnell.
It’s a challenge the manager will relish and it appears to be paying off as Liverpool benefit from a new attacking trio.
Ben Doak and Trent Kone-Doherty arrived from Celtic and Derry City respectively, taking on first-choice roles with not only the U18s but also the U19s in the UEFA Youth League.
They have found themselves flanking Lewis Koumas, the son of former Wigan midfielder Jason, who came up from the under-16s as a first-year intern.
Between them, Koumas, Doak and Kone-Doherty have already scored 15 goals across all age groups this season.
Lewis Koumas (16, CF) so far this season…?
? 7 games?? 8 goals?? 2 assists
The main source of goals in the #LFC academy! pic.twitter.com/qjLBNTH9GB
— Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) September 20, 2022
It is Koumas, who recently converted from attacking midfielder to No. 9, who has found the back of the net most often, the 16-year-old scoring eight in just seven outings.
That includes a four-goal run against Middlesbrough on the opening day of the season, an effort off the bench in a 4-0 win over Ajax and a brace in a 4-3 loss to Manchester City last time out. .
Is new signing Ben Doak (16, RW) not far behind either?
? 6 games?? 4 goals?? 3 assists
Arguably the featured artist so far. pic.twitter.com/jY5LI3YZvM
— Jack Lusby (@LusbyJack) September 20, 2022
Meanwhile, Doak scored two goals on his scoring debut against Leeds and Napoli, the latter an impressive solo goal, and Kone-Doherty scored two against Man United and one against Man City.
Two have also become providers, and often to each other: Doak has three assists to his name and Koumas two.
Unsurprisingly, all three are in the top five for goals scored in Liverpool’s academy teams so far this season, along with Oakley Cannonier and Layton Stewart.
Top 5 Liverpool academy scorers
1. Lewis Koumas – 8 2. Ben Doak – 4 3. Oakley Cannonier – 4 4. Layton Stewart – 3 5. Trent Kone-Doherty – 3
No player has more combined goals and assists than Koumas (10) or Doak (seven), with Kone-Doherty (three) tied with Bobby Clark, Luke Chambers and Max Woltman for fifth place.
The hope will be that all three can maintain their excellent form when play resumes after the international break, still in the early days of their time with the U18s.
Next up is a clash with Nottingham Forest at the AXA Training Centre, before Rangers visit Europe three days later.
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