Brooks Lennon and Ryan Kent netted superb solo goals on a great week for Liverpool’s loanees as 11 of the 14 borrowed men enjoyed match action.
Lennon scored a brilliant first professional goal to help Real Salt Lake complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback over Colorado Rapids.
With Salt Lake having pulled level with just five minutes left, Lennon sealed a stunning turnaround two minutes from time by cutting inside with a mazy run before drilling a superb strike into the bottom corner from 25 yards.
The American’s strike was deserved rewards for another positive display as he played all 90 minutes, with the goal also handing RSL a second successive win.
Kent also registered on the scoresheet in a productive Easter weekend at Barnsley, completing successive games and netting a classy goal in the first of those, a 3-2 loss at Wigan.
The Reds youngster put Barnsley 2-0 up on the hour mark with a brilliant solo effort, beating his marker with pace and trickery before cutting inside and firing home a left-footed strike.
Kent’s third goal of the season should have sealed victory but instead inspired Wigan to battle back, but despite the capitulation, the winger retained his place for Monday’s clash with Brentford.
Though not adding to his goals or assists tally this time, Kent was again in bright form despite playing in a changed role on the left of a front three, creating a couple of goalscoring chances for his side.
In the Premier League, Mamadou Sakho‘s fine form at Crystal Palace rolls on, with the Frenchman producing two big performances to help the Eagles enjoy an unbeaten week.
??? @CPFC pic.twitter.com/grehURjIKe
— Mamadou Sakho (@mamadousakho) April 15, 2017
Sakho kicked off with a colossal display in Palace’s 3-0 win over Arsenal, leading by example with a brave defensive display at the heart of defence as he showed his top-level class.
And Sakho was in solid form again in a 2-2 draw with Leicester on Saturday, with the centre-back typically courageous as he put his body on the line to make some timely interventions.
Oppositely, Lazar Markovic failed to build on his positive run of form at Hull City, with the Serbian producing a flat 86-minute display in a 3-1 loss to Stoke.
Markovic struggled to impose himself from the right wing—though he did force Stoke stopper Lee Grant into a decent save with a left-footed volley in the first half.
But the winger’s ineffective performance was summed up by his part in Stoke’s third goal, with the Serbian surrendering possession before then just ball watching, rather than working back, as the Potters broke and scored.
Elsewhere, Jon Flanagan had another week without action at Burnley.
Lennon’s impressive form capped off another pleasing week for the Reds around the globe, as the remaining four loanees all enjoyed game time.
Andre Wisdom‘s impressive run at Red Bull Salzburg continued, with the defender helping keep a fourth clean sheet in five games as his side moved closer to title success with a 2-0 win at Wolfsberger.
Wisdom turned in a strong defensive performance at centre-back to keep the home side out, clearing his lines well and dealing decisively with danger when his side came under pressure.
Allan Rodrigues followed his first appearance of 2017 at Hertha Berlin with a first start of the year against Mainz 05.
It wasn’t the return he will have hoped for, coming in a 1-0 loss, but on an individual note it was a positive afternoon for Allan, who marked his first 90 minutes for the club since December with a combative display.
Both Eredivisie loanees suffered disappointing defeats, with Pedro Chirivella unable to prevent Go Ahead Eagles side slipping to a third straight loss.
The Spaniard played all 90 minutes as his side went down 2-0 to Willem II, and though not in his best form as he earned a booking, Chirivella produced a hardworking performance in a midfield pivot as he tried, but failed, to spark his team to life.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi‘s third consecutive start for NEC Nijmegen ended in a third straight loss.
The striker again failed to find the net in a 3-0 defeat to FC Twente, producing an ineffective performance as he was starved of service—resulting in Awoniyi failing to register a single shot.
The Easter weekend brings plenty of Football League action, and it was relatively positive as three of Liverpool’s other five lower-league borrowed men featured.
Danny Ward posted an unbeaten Easter at Huddersfield, helping the Terriers maintain their promotion push with four points from two games.
Ward enjoyed a winning start to the double-header, producing a decent performance despite conceding two goals he could nothing about as his side sealed a dramatic 3-2 win over Preston.
And the Wales ‘keeper was in assured form again in Monday’s 1-1 draw at Derby County, unable to do anything about the deflected strike that beat him late on.
Cameron Brannagan also enjoyed two outings for League One side Fleetwood, the first of which came in a substitute appearance for the final 10 minutes of a 2-1 win over Peterborough.
But the midfielder enjoyed extended action on Monday, playing 86 minutes of a 1-0 win over Millwall in which he produced a hardworking performance to grind out a victory.
What a big win that was today every player give it ? class ! @ftfc
— Cameron Brannagan (@Cameron246bran) April 17, 2017
Elsewhere, Jack Dunn made a welcome return from injury, featuring for the first time since February for the last 25 minutes of Tranmere’s 2-1 win over Guiseley, with the young forward bright on his return.
Finally, Ryan Fulton and Lloyd Jones endured another week without game time at Chesterfield—who were relegated to League Two—and Swindon respectively.
Liverpool’s Loanees Over Easter
- Mamadou Sakho – Crystal Palace – Played 90 mins vs. Arsenal & Leicester
- Lazar Markovic – Hull – Played 86 mins vs. Stoke
- Jon Flanagan – Burnley – Unused sub vs. Everton
- Danny Ward – Huddersfield – Played 90 mins vs. Preston & Derby
- Ryan Kent – Barnsley – Played 90 mins and scored vs. Wigan & played 90 mins vs. Brentford
- Andre Wisdom – Red Bull Salzburg – Played 90 mins vs. Wolfsberger
- Pedro Chirivella – Go Ahead Eagles – Played 90 mins vs. Willem II
- Brooks Lennon – Real Salt Lake – Played 90 mins & scored vs. Colorado Rapids
- Taiwo Awoniyi – NEC Nijmegen – Played 90 mins vs. FC Twente
- Allan Rodrigues – Hertha Berlin – Played 90 mins vs. Mainz05
- Cameron Brannagan – Fleetwood – Played 12 mins vs. Peterborough & 86 mins vs. Millwall
- Ryan Fulton – Chesterfield – Unused sub for two games
- Lloyd Jones – Swindon – Uninvolved in two games
- Jack Dunn – Tranmere – Played 25 mins vs. Guiseley on comeback from injury
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