Liverpool’s loanees were in top form over the last seven days, providing two goals, an assist and a host of impressive performances for their temporary clubs.
The borrowed Reds’ excellent start to the season shows absolutely no sign of stopping.
Several were in great form and made vital contributions while just one of the 15 fit loanees didn’t play—with only Shamal George unused.
Here’s the full lowdown of the action across the week, starting with the two goalscorers.
Two Reds were on the scoresheet…
Harry Wilson was back with a bang at Derby after a frustrating few weeks on the sideline.
Wilson followed a sharp cameo on his return at Blackburn in midweek with a goal and bright display on his first start back from injury in a 3-1 win over Brentford.
Moments after going close with a thunderous strike, Wilson drew the Rams level at 1-1 as he finished a slick counter-attack.
Wilson’s goal was a key moment, providing his team-mates with the inspiration to complete a strong comeback.
Now fully recovered and settled in, the Wales international looks ready to show his best form.
Danny Ings didn’t return to action from the international break until Monday night, but he made it worth the wait by instantly picking up his goalscoring form.
Making his fourth start for Southampton against Brighton, Ings scored his third goal for the Saints in an eventful 2-2 draw.
Ings doubled Southampton’s lead from the spot, converting a penalty which he won himself after being tripped while embarking on a driving run.
That’s now three goals in five games for Ings who has taken no time to prove his worth at St Mary’s.
One Red posted his first assist of the season…
Herbie Kane has made a brilliant start to his first loan spell at Doncaster, producing consistent accomplished displays since joining the League One side.
And the academy midfielder played a key role in a 2-1 win over Bradford on Saturday, laying on his first assist of the season for the winning goal.
Kane set up the decisive strike on 52 minutes, sliding a stylish and well-weighted outside-of-the-boot pass to release John Marquis who finished.
Kane has been one of the under-the-radar success stories of the loanees so far this season.
With 10 appearances, six full games and now an assist to his name, it’s clear to see he is relishing the first-team stage.
Great result?? buzzin?
— Herbie kane (@herbiekane) September 22, 2018
Doncaster are next in action away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, as Kane heads to his native West Country.
Karius impressed again at Besiktas…
Loris Karius built on last week’s promising performances with another big shot-stopping display on his only outing.
Karius was a key factor behind Besiktas’ 3-1 Europa League win over Sarpsborg, making two crucial stops at big moments in the group opener.
In the first half, the German produced a fine flying stop to keep his side at 0-0, before making a vital one-on-one block in the second half to preserve a 2-0 lead.
Karius already appears to be rebuilding his confidence nicely, and he will hope to continue positively against Fenerbahce on Monday night.
Eight more Reds enjoyed game time…
Four more European loanees featured and that included Brazilian midfielder Allan Rodrigues finally making his Eintracht Frankfurt debut.
Involved in matchday activity for only the second time, Allan made his bow as a second-half sub in a 1-1 draw with RB Leipzig and produced a tidy cameo after slotting into midfield.
Hopefully more regular game time arrives from here.
Also in the Bundesliga, Marko Grujic continued his strong start at Hertha Berlin, who extended their unbeaten opening to rise to second in the table.
Featuring in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Grujic made his third straight start and turned in an all-action display in a 4-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BoCndlnAiLQ
There was a dampener though, as Grujic was forced off after a hefty challenge, and it was confirmed post-match that the Serbian suffered ankle ligament damage and now faces six weeks out.
In France, Sheyi Ojo made his full debut for Stade de Reims but he didn’t make a Xherdan Shaqiri style impact—instead turning in a quiet hour-long display in a 0-0 draw with Dijon.
In Belgium, Taiwo Awoniyi featured for the first time in three matches for KAA Gent.
That was the only positive though, with Awoniyi given a difficult cameo as his side were thrashed 4-0 by Club Brugge—entering at 2-0 down for an unrewarding final 20 minutes.
His club-mate, Anderson Arroyo started and played the full 90 minutes in the Gent U21s’ 2-2 draw with Sint-Truiden.
In Scotland, Ryan Kent’s recent improvement continued with another two positive outings for Rangers.
The winger had a decent game in the Gers’ 2-2 Europa League draw at Villarreal, producing a hardworking display as he dug in defensively and instigated some promising counter-attacks.
And Kent was influential in a 5-1 win over St Johnstone on Sunday, playing a key part in the third goal as Scott Arfield finished after the loanee’s shot hit the bar.
Injury kept Ovie Ejaria out for a third game against Villarreal, but he was back at the weekend as Steven Gerrard eased him into action with a 35-minute outing to get him up to speed.
Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership, Adam Bogdan was in solid form at Hibernian, keeping his first league clean sheet since the opening day of the season in a 3-0 win at Dundee.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two remaining Reds in the Football League.
In the Championship, Ben Woodburn had a frustrating time at Sheffield United, restricted to one sub outing in a 0-0 draw at Birmingham before going unused against Preston.
Finally, Corey Whelan made his second successive start in Crewe’s 1-0 derby-day loss to Port Vale, playing the full game and picking up a booking.
Liverpool’s Loanees This Week
- Loris Karius – Played 90 mins vs. Sarpsborg
- Danny Ings – Played 84 mins & scored vs. Brighton; ineligible vs. Liverpool
- Marko Grujic – Played 72 mins vs. Borussia Monchengladbach
- Harry Wilson – Played 20 mins vs. Blackburn & 83 mins, scoring once vs. Brentford
- Sheyi Ojo – Played 59 mins vs. Dijon
- Ryan Kent – Played 90 mins vs. Villarreal & 71 mins vs. St Johnstone
- Ovie Ejaria – Injured vs. Villarreal & played 34 mins vs. St Johnstone
- Adam Bogdan – Played 90 mins & kept clean sheet vs. Dundee
- Herbie Kane – Played 90 mins vs. assisted vs. Bradford
- Corey Whelan – Played 90 mins vs. Port Vale
- Taiwo Awoniyi – Played 22 mins vs. Club Brugge
- Anderson Arroyo – Played 90 mins vs. Sint-Truiden U21
- Allan Rodrigues – Left out vs. Marseille & played 17 mins vs. RB Leipzig
- Ben Woodburn – Played 13 mins vs. Birmingham & unused vs. Preston
- Shamal George – Unused vs. Newport County
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