Liverpool youngster left shocked by Jurgen Klopp comments in media and Sadio Mane on training ground
It has been 21 months since Billy Koumetio made his first start for Liverpool.
The Frenchman was one of four fringe centre-backs to depart the Reds on loan this summer. As Rhys Williams and Sepp van den Berg moved to Aberdeen and Mainz respectively for the season back in July, and Nat Phillips was snapped up by Celtic just before transfer deadline day, he was granted his own temporary departure to newly-promoted Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque late last month
The switch sees him return to play in his native France for the first time since moving to Liverpool from Orleans in 2018. Having seen his first temporary exit to Austria Vienna not work out last season, limited to just 11 appearances before returning prematurely to Anfield, the 20-year-old will be determined to make the most of his second loan opportunity in more familiar surroundings.
Having seen that defensive quartet depart on loan this summer, it was teenager Jarell Quansah that Jurgen Klopp turned to off the bench for the Reds’ recent victories over Newcastle United and Aston Villa. A couple of seasons ago Koumetio would have perhaps hoped for such opportunities to instead fall his way.
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Affectionately nicknamed ‘Billy the Kid’ by Klopp when impressing in pre-season in the summer of 2020, Koumetio perhaps hasn’t made as much of a first team impact as he would have liked over the past three years. As a result, his first Liverpool start, coming against Leicester City in the League Cup in December 2021, also remains his last.
Whether he does enough
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