Liverpool and Premier League youngster Billy Koumetio enjoyed a very impressive debut for Blackburn Rovers in Tuesday’s FA Cup clash with Newcastle United.
To borrow the description used by former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, the France Under-20 international was nothing short of ‘phenomenal’ after coming off the bench and playing the final 48 minutes as John Eustace’s brilliant, belligerent Blackburn went toe-to-toe with their top-flight rivals during both normal and extra time.
Billy Koumetio, the 6ft 5ins defender signed on loan from Jurgen Klopp’s side on deadline day a month ago, made his Rovers debut on the night.
It’s fair to say he did his hopes of more regular action no harm at all.
Liverpool loanee shines as Blackburn scare Newcastle
Lining up at left-back, rather than in his preferred centre-half role, the 21-year-old played a part in a stirring rearguard action, Blackburn goalkeeper Ainsley Pears making a series of superb stops as Sean Longstaff, Anthony Gordon and co were denied from point-blank range.
“He’s done really well,” Murphy said of Koumetio, speaking in his co-commentary role on the BBC, highlighting one ‘phenomenal’ piece of defending as the youngster intercepted a clever Tino Livramento pass to help take the game to penalties.
After frustrating spells at Austria Wien and US Dunkerque – Koumetio was recalled from both clubs following a combined 13 league appearances – the Lyon-born giant will certainly be relieved to have begun life at Ewood Park in a far more positive manner.
Koumetio will now hope to kick on and emulate the success of one Harvey Elliott, a regular in Klopp’s first-team these days three years on from his own spell in Blackburn’s blue-and-white shirt.
‘He’s a big talent’
“Billy the kid. He doesn’t look like a kid!” Klopp laughed back in 2020, speaking to the Reds website after Koumetio left the German with a typically Mersey-wide smile on his face after impressing during pre-season.
“In my opinion, his face looks like a kid but then all the rest is like… wow! I told him; ‘Last time I saw you, you were like 20 centimetres less if I’m right.’ That’s pretty special.
“Yes, he’s a big talent.”
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