Lewis Koumas might have spent last season training with the Liverpool first team - including his idol, Luis Diaz - but the Wales international remains in awe of the Reds’ senior players. The 19-year-old scored on his debut for the club last season and was named in a number of matchday squads by Jurgen Klopp.

After signing a new long-term contract with Liverpool in the summer, he was then sent on loan to Stoke City. Making 31 appearances to date, the teenager has been an impressive performer in what is proving to be a difficult season for the Potters.

A versatile forward in the Reds academy after being transformed from a midfielder, Koumas has played upfront, on both flanks and at number 10 under four different managers at Stoke.

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Training with Liverpool alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah and Diaz has ultimately left him in good stead for such an experience. But Koumas jokes he probably watched the Colombian a little too closely after he first linked up with the first team.

"There were times where he probably thought I was a bit of a weirdo just watching him most of the time," Koumas told Sky Sports. "I love watching him to see what he does and try and implement bits of his game into mine.

"All the forwards at Liverpool are incredible. All the players are really. It was crazy even being there getting to watch them and learn from them every day. It's the luckiest thing.

"You always get that moment where you just have like, Mo Salah or Virgil van Dijk, standing in front of you. I don't think that awe will ever go away."

Son of former Wales international Jason Koumas, the Liverpool youngster admits he used to get grief because of his famous father.

But having made his first mark with the Reds before leaving on loan, he’s glad that he has been able to prove himself in his own right.

"There was an element when I was younger at Liverpool of people saying, 'you're only here because of your dad'," he said.

"It's nice to have proved them wrong in a way. I'm showing that I'm a good player as well and I'm here because of me."