3 goals and 1 assist as several Reds’ loanees shine – Liverpool FC Loan Watch

Three Reds scored, two assisted and 11 enjoyed match action on what was the best week of the season so far for Liverpool’s loaness.

This was undoubtedly the most productive week of the campaign as numerous Reds were in top form and the majority of those available featured.

Only Lazar Markovic, Jon Flanagan, Allan Rodrigues and Andy Firth went unused, while Sheyi Ojo missed out again through injury.

Here’s how those who played fared, with goals, assists and impressive performances in abundance.


Three Reds were in fine form in front of goal…

Mouscron's Michael Awoniyi celebrates after scoring during the Jupiler Pro League match between Sporting Lokeren and Royal Excel Mouscron, in Lokeren, Saturday 12 August 2017, on the third day of the Jupiler Pro League, the Belgian soccer championship season 2017-2018. BELGA PHOTO VIRGINIE LEFOUR

Taiwo Awoniyi made a stunning return to the scoresheet with the best display of his professional career – claiming two goals and an assist in Royal Excel Mouscron’s 4-3 loss to Standard Liege.

Awoniyi struck his first to make it 1-1 with a superb solo effort, as he picked the ball up near the half-way line, turned brilliantly and drove into the box where he slotted a composed finish.

Awoniyi soon turned provider as he broke in behind and supplied a deft cut-back for his teammate to make it 2-2, before he then took a whack to face which saw the home side reduced to 10-men.

And an incredible display was completed when Awoniyi netted his second to make it 3-2 with another excellent finish – selling one defender with a great chop before lashing in on his left foot.

Liege struck twice late on to deny Awoniyi the match-winning display he deserved, but this stunning performance illustrated the clear progress the Nigerian has made.

Harry Wilson enjoyed the perfect full debut at Hull as he scored his first professional goal in a crucial 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Playing on the left wing, Wilson – who earlier won a penalty which was missed – struck to double the lead as he slid in with great desire and timing to convert at the back-post.

Wilson’s first start could not have gone much better and it will hopefully provide the springboard for a successful remainder of the season.

Corey Whelan also enjoyed a moment he will never forget as he scored his first professional goal in Yeovil’s Football League Trophy quarter-final win over Fleetwood.

Whelan netted his side’s second goal of a 3-2 victory, curling a great finish through the crowd and into the net after finding himself in space on the edge of the box.

The strike capped off a brilliant man-of-the-match display and came in the first of two outings as Whelan kept his place against Crewe, where he was in solid form helping keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.

https://twitter.com/coreywhelan1997/status/961283285241466880

 

One Red claimed an assist as two loanees came head-to-head…

Bristol City's Ryan Kent

There was a battle of the loanees on Saturday as Ryan Kent’s promotion chasing Bristol City took on Ovie Ejaria’s relegation-battling Sunderland.

The spoils were shared in an exciting 3-3 draw in which both Reds were in influential form.

Kent, playing from the right wing, impressed in particular as he set up the goal which handed his side a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time.

Racing away as part of a counter-attack, Kent showed great pace to burst forward and break into the box, where he rolled a perfectly weighted pass square for Famara Diédhiou to convert.

Meanwhile, Ejaria was also bright as Sunderland launched an unlikely second-half comeback – which has comically since been labelled ‘Bristanbul’.

Though Ejaria didn’t produce a direct contribution, he was heavily involved as his side piled on the pressure and completed an incredible fight-back.

 

Six other Reds also enjoyed match action…

Wolfsburg's Divock Origi ahead of the German Bundesliga soccer match between VfL Wolfsburg and Hanover 96 in the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg, Germany, 9 September 2017. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa

Starting with the European Reds, Divock Origi was unable to build on last week’s goal-scoring display in two outings at Wolfsburg.

The Belgian played all the 1-0 DFB Pokal exit to Schalke but a flat display saw him drop to the bench against Werder Bremen on Sunday, in which he played the final 20 minutes of a 3-1 loss.

It was another action-packed week for Pedro Chirivella at WillemII as the Spaniard played all but 10 minutes across two games.

The first of those come on Wednesday when Chirivella produced a tenacious display in a 3-0 win over VVV-Venlo, but he was less influential as his side lost 1-0 to Heracles on Saturday.

New signing Anderson Arroyo was straight into action at Real Mallorca, who he joined in midweek and where he will predominantly feature for the club’s ‘B’ side.

The Colombian full-back enjoyed a successful debut for the second string team as he helped keep a clean sheet in an hour-long outing in a 1-0 win over CE Manacor.

Three home-based Reds were also in action, including Marko Grujic who featured in Cardiff’s controversial 1-1 draw at Millwall on Friday night.

Cardiff City's Marko Grujic ( Steve Paston/EMPICS Sport)

The Serbian was again the Bluebirds’ defensive-midfield protector and produced a hard-working display as his side were denied a late winner after the referee failed to play advantage.

Matty Virtue returned from suspension at Notts County and had an educational outing, with his only game-time coming in a learning curve of an 8-1 loss to Swansea in the FA Cup.

North of the border, Connor Randall played only the closing stages of Hearts’ comfortable 3-0 Scottish Cup win over St Johnstone.

Finally, Daniel Sturridge could be in action on Monday night as West Brom travel to Chelsea, which you can see on Sky Sports One with kick-off at 8pm.

 

Keita Watch

RB Leipzig - Porto / Fussball Champions League Leipzig, 17.10.2017, Red Bull Arena, Fussball, UEFA Champions League, Gruppe G, 3.Spieltag , Rasenballsport Leipzig vs. FC Porto , Im Bild; Naby Keita (8, RB Leipzig) , *** RB Leipzig Porto Football Champions League Leipzig 17 10 2017 Red Bull Arena Football UEFA Champions League Group G 3 Matchday Lawn ball sport Leipzig vs FC Porto in Picture Naby Keita 8 RB Leipzig.

Keita enjoyed the perfect 23rd birthday as he produced a goal-scoring display in RB Leipzig’s 2-0 win over Augsburg.

Playing from his play-making midfield role, Keita hit his seventh goal of the season to double the lead and seal the points with a slightly fortunate effort.

Stepping up to take a free-kick 25-yards from goal, Keita’s curled strike deflected off the wall and wrong footed Marwin Hitz before bouncing into the net.

The goal may have been fortunate but it still came in a good overall display from Keita, who was withdrawn 10 minutes early.


 

Liverpool’s Loanees This Week

  • Sturridge – In action on Monday night vs. Chelsea
  • Origi – Played 90mins vs. Schalke & 21mins vs. Werder Bremen
  • Grujic – Played 76mins vs. Millwall
  • Kent – Played 90mins & assisted vs. Sunderland
  • Ejaria – Played 83mins vs. Bristol City
  • Wilson – Played 71mins & scored vs. Nottingham Forest
  • Randall – Played 13mins vs. St Johnstone
  • Chirivella – Played 90mins vs. VVV-Venlo & 78mins vs. Heracles
  • Awoniyi – Played 90mins, scoring twice and assisting vs. Standard Liege
  • Arroyo – Played 63mins vs. CE Manacor
  • Virtue – Played 90mins vs. Swansea & Left out of matchday squad vs. Barnet
  • Whelan – Played 90mins & scored vs. Fleetwood & 90mins vs. Crewe
  • Markovic – Left out of matchday squad vs. Oostende
  • Flanagan – Unused sub vs. Fulham
  • Ojo – N/A due to injury
  • Allan – Unused sub vs. DOXA & AEK Larnaca
  • Firth – Unused sub vs. Woking
  • Keita – Played 79mins & scored vs. Augsburg

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