Ryan Kent and Steven Gerrard’s European push headlines Liverpool’s midweek loan action

October 23, 2018
Jack Lusby

Liverpool’s clash with Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League is not the only game worth keeping an eye on this week, with nine loanees also in action.

The Reds take on their Serbian opponents at Anfield in an 8pm kickoff (BST), hoping to build on their 1-0 victory over Huddersfield and respond to their 1-0 loss to Napoli.

It will certainly be a strange atmosphere with Red Star’s supporters banned from the stadium, and Jurgen Klopp can look to use this as an overwhelming advantage.

If Liverpool take the three points, they will have made a big step towards booking their place in the last 16.

Rangers can do similar when they take on Spartak Moscow on Thursday night—sitting top of Group G after two games, a win would ensure they maintain at least a one-point lead.

The contribution of Ryan Kent could be pivotal there, as the 21-year-old marked his 100th senior career outing with a goal in a fine display at Hamilton Academical on Sunday.

Kent has now netted back-to-back goals for the first time on the first-team stage, albeit on either side of an international break, and will be eyeing another at Ibrox in midweek.

Elsewhere, this week brings reunions for both Allan Rodrigues and Corey Whelan, as current loan sides take on former clubs—but in bitter circumstances for one.

Whelan’s Crewe Alexandra travel to Somerset and Huish Park on Tuesday night to take on Yeovil Town, for whom the young Irishman made 11 appearances in a brief spell earlier this year, scoring once.

But Allan will be forced to watch on at Eintracht Frankfurt when they welcome Apollon Limassol to the Waldstadion.

Frankfurt thrashed Fortuna Dusseldorf 7-1 on Friday night, but Allan was an unused substitute, and having been left out of their Europa League group stage squad he will miss out again.

The Brazilian has made just three appearances for the Bundesliga side as he seeks a UK work permit, and this certainly won’t aid his cause.

Another disappointing story comes from Istanbul, where Loris Karius is gearing up to take on Genk in the Europa League in the wake of a 2-0 loss to Goztepe on Sunday.

After that shock defeat in the Super Lig, the German goalkeeper came in for strong criticism from Turkish journalist Mehmet Demirkol regarding his private life.

“There is a situation with Karius. This guy is out of a great depression, and I think Bestikas is a very good rehabilitation centre,” Demirkol said.

“But many say ‘if I go to a nightclub, Karius is there’.”

Karius has already been forced to defend himself from claims over his off-field activity once, and now it seems, unfortunately, the scrutiny will continue.

Midweek will also see Shamal George’s fight for minutes at Tranmere Rovers go on, a late call over Herbie Kane’s fitness at Doncaster Rovers and the next chapter in Ben Woodburn‘s strange time at Sheffield United unfold.