Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Theo Squires

Sons of Premier League stars both score for Liverpool in prestigious FIFA Youth Cup

Lewis Koumas and Keyrol Figueroa were both on the scoresheet for Liverpool Under-18s as they finished their season by competing in the prestigious Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup in Zurich.

With all matches in Switzerland just 40 minutes long and taking place over two days, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s side were one of eight sides who took part in the tournament. The Young Reds would eventually finish sixth as they suffered a group-stage exit.

Figueroa scored in their opening match as Liverpool drew 1-1 with Grasshoppers. A 0-0 draw with Corinthians would follow, before Koumas netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over FC Blue Stars.

READ MORE: 'We have different plans' - Jurgen Klopp hinted at surprise Liverpool transfer last January

READ MORE: Liverpool could qualify for Champions League despite finishing fifth under new UEFA rules next season

However, that wasn't enough to prevent the Reds missing out on the knock-out stages on goal difference. They then finished the tournament with a 2-0 defeat to FC Basel in the fifth/sixth-place play-off.

Speaking to the club after the tournament, Bridge-Wilkinson told liverpoolfc.com: "We played against teams from different countries and cultures, with different playing styles.

"Playing against the Brazilians Corinthians was a great experience for everyone involved, a really good challenge coming up against different systems. So, overall a really great experience and a fantastic competition that we are really grateful to be involved in.

"It was a shame we couldn't reach the later stages due to our goal difference in the group games. We had some great chances in our first game and if we had taken one of those then we would have finished as one of the top two teams in the group.

"Overall in the group games I would say our performance level was okay. We were unbeaten and it was just a shame we went out on goals scored, and we lost to Basel in our last game, which was to see who finished in fifth place.

"We are really grateful to the people who hosted us out here in Zurich and we want to say thank you to them for making us feel very welcome in this competition."

Liverpool finished sixth in the U18 Premier League table this season, while they suffered a fifth round exit to Ipswich Town in the FA Youth Cup.

Koumas, son of former Wales international Jason, top scored for the Under-18s in the league despite missing five months of the season through injury, claiming an impressive 12 goals from just 13 appearances.

Meanwhile, Figueroa finished the season strongly after starring for the United States at the CONCACAF U-17 Championships, notching seven goals as they reached the final in February. Following his return to the AXA Training Centre, the 16-year-old, son of former Wigan Athletic star Maynor, registered four goals and three assists from the young Reds’ final eight league games of the season.

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.