The Athletic’s James Pearce has said Billy Koumetio has played himself into Jurgen Klopp’s plans ahead of the new season.
At just 17 years of age, Koumetio has found himself immersed in Klopp’s squad this pre-season and was even on the bench for the Community Shield, ahead of some more experienced squad members.
The likes of Nat Phillips, Sepp van den Berg and Ki-Jana Hoever were all overlooked in favour of the 6’4 Frenchman.
The young French central defender has impressed everyone associated with the Reds so much that he could well remain as the fourth choice centre-back come the start of the new campaign, filling the void left by Dejan Lovren’s departure.
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In truth, Koumetio is a boy beyond his years in all aspects – standing alongside the shoulders of Virgil van Dijk is no mean feat – but it’s one that the Lyon born defender manages.
The commanding teenager has grabbed his opportunity to impress with both hands, and he did not look at all out of place during the Reds pre-season match with RB Salzburg in Austria where he appeared as a second-half substitute.
Should Klopp have trust in the youngster to be his forth option for the 2020/21 season, it would be a huge weight off the German’s shoulders and would mean he wouldn’t need to go out and sign another centre-back, perhaps freeing up money for other areas of the squad.
