Billy Koumetio was a surprise inclusion in Jurgen Klopp’s side as they began pre-season training in Austria last week ahead of the 2020/21 campaign.
Having spent the last season playing with the under-18 side, the French center-back was among the new faces included by the Liverpool in their preseason camp.
Standing at 6’3″, the hulking young defender was featured in a recent photograph from the training ground that made the rounds on Twitter.
At the age of just 17, Koumetio appeared taller than Liverpool’s senior defensive duo of Virgil van Djik and Joe Gomez –
Klopp who aims to personally manage the central defender’s fitness while in pre-season training has described him as a ‘big talent’ who can take ‘big steps’ in the future.
In youth development, particularly in Koumetio’s position, it is important that the burden of training and getting involved with first team does not hamper the progress. That is the reason youngsters like Van De Berg and Koumetio are not considered as regular options at the senior level.
After signing his first professional contract with Liverpool in August, the centre back will play a regular role in U-23s in the upcoming season.
