Liverpool academy graduate Lewis Koumas has been reflecting on his start to the season, and the fact that he has emulated Steven Gerrard in the Champions League

Lewis Koumas has praised Liverpool 'legend' Steven Gerrard after it was revealed that the striker had emulated the former captain with his display against LASK in the Champions League in midweek.

It follows a second start in a row across all competitions for the academy graduate, who has been filling in as a center forward in the absence of first-team stars such as Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo.

In his appearances so far this season, the Welsh international has added some infectious running to the team, showing his ability to chase and press the opposition with his rapid pace and clear desire to make an impact. Having grown up as a Liverpool fan, Koumas has taken that passion from the stands to the pitch, becoming something of a favorite with the Anfield faithful in the process.

The thing that will turn the 21-year-old from a rotation player to a guaranteed starter, however, is whether he can make an impact in terms of output, as well as his overall displays.

In six appearances, the forward had failed to score a goal, despite having some chances displayed to him. He finally put that right in the Champions League clash with LASK, finding the back of the net in a 6-3 win, while also setting up another goal in the process.

It made Koumas just the second 21-year-old to score and assist in a Champions League fixture, with Gerrard being the first to do so during the early days of his career.

“It’s not a bad stat, is it?” the youngster told The Telegraph, having asked if the statistic was true. "It’s not a bad name to be alongside. Wow! What a legend. I just want more of this.

"Yes [he is loving how things are going] but this is also my job. I need to get goals and assists, I hadn’t had any before Linz. So it was really important to get them.

"Oh my God, I would have been gutted if the game had ended [without a goal, after having two ruled out for offside]. I just kept going because I knew the more the game was going on, it was opening up and I was just focused on getting the right connection.

“Going over to the fans at the end meant absolutely everything. They are the reason we do this and that we want this sort of job. They mean everything to us. I wish I could have got in there with them but there was a big metal cage in my way.”

It's the sort of response that truly gets the Liverpool fans on side with Koumas, having already seen his desire and work rate on the pitch, while his response to such an achievement is exactly the same as any other supporter would react.

It remains to be seen whether he will start again in the upcoming match with Brentford, with uncertainty over the fitness of Isak and Gakpo still remaining. But if he is available, then the travelling support knows exactly what it will get out of the forward.