Corey Whelan was a surprise goalscorer, but Ryan Kent and Ovie Ejaria didn’t enjoy quite as much success on a quiet week for Liverpool’s loanees.
This was one of the less productive spells of the season for the borrowed Reds, mostly due to the number of loanees who weren’t in action.
Ben Woodburn was left out for sixth consecutive game at Sheffield United, while Sheyi Ojo and Shamal George were also unused.
There were no games for Loris Karius or Anderson Arroyo—both could play on Monday night for Besiktas and KAA Gent U21s—while Adam Bogdan won’t feature until Wednesday when Hibernian take on Hearts.
Marko Grujic and Connor Randall remain sidelined through injury.
That meant only eight Reds played this weekend but there was still some good form produced, most notably with Corey Whelan.
Whelan was a surprise name on the scoresheet…
The academy defender is known more for preventing goals than scoring them, but Whelan made a rare and welcome appearance on the scoresheet on Saturday.
The full-back netted his second professional goal—his first came while on loan at Yeovil last season—and first for Crewe to put his side en route to a 2-0 win over Grimsby.
Whelan opened the scoring on 70 minutes with an effort a natural striker would have been proud of, controlling a cross-field pass superbly on his right before slotting home with his left.
It was a classy finish but Whelan’s good work didn’t end there as he also played a part in the build-up to the second goal, capping off a great afternoon individually and collectively.
This was Whelan’s best display for Crewe, who rose to 17th in the League Two table, and he should take real confidence going forward to continue hitting such levels.
Seven more Reds were in action…
Five of those featured on home soil but it was a winless weekend for all involved – with the biggest disappointment coming for Kent and Ejaria at Rangers.
The duo featured in the Gers’ biggest game of the season so far, that being a League Cup semi-final against Aberdeen at Hampden Park on Sunday.
But the big occasion didn’t go as either will have hoped as Steven Gerrard’s side lost 1-0 and missed out on the prospect of a Liverpool reunion and mouth-watering final with Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic.
Kent and Ejaria both played the full 90 minutes, and though neither hit top form, they were among Rangers’ brighter performers on a disappointing afternoon.
In the Premier League, Danny Ings’ explosive start at Southampton—which saw him score three goals in his opening five games—faded further this weekend.
Indeed, Ings and his Saints side made it three consecutive Premier League games without a goal after being held to a 0-0 draw by fellow strugglers Newcastle at St Mary’s.
In the Championship, Harry Wilson followed his stunning midweek display with another good performance in Derby’s 1-1 draw at promotion-hunting rivals Middlesbrough.
The Wales international, interestingly, was moved from his usual wide position into a roaming playmaker role in a three-man midfield by boss Frank Lampard.
Wilson clearly relished the role and suitably impressed as he dictated play and carried a constant goal-threat, which almost saw him score two great individual strikes.
Herbie Kane continues to be a key part of Doncaster’s midfield and he made his 17th start, completing his 13th full game, for the League One side in a 2-1 loss at Coventry on Saturday.
Appearances off the bench was the frustrating theme for the only two European-based Reds to play, however.
Having been left out of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League squad, Allan Rodrigues is banking on receiving plenty of game-time in the Bundesliga.
But the Brazilian had to settle for a cameo role in a 1-1 draw at Nurnberg on Sunday, in which he played the final 20 minutes in midfield and helped his side battle back to earn a point.
And, finally, Taiwo Awoniyi was restricted to a second successive late sub outing at KAA Gent, playing only the closing stages of his side’s 2-1 win over Charleroi on Friday night.
Liverpool’s Loanees This Weekend
- Taiwo Awoniyi (KAA Gent) – 9 mins vs. Charleroi
- Corey Whelan (Crewe) – 90 mins vs. Grimsby, goal
- Herbie Kane (Doncaster) – 90 mins vs. Coventry
- Harry Wilson (Derby) – 90 mins vs. Middlesbrough
- Danny Ings (Southampton) – 90 mins vs. Newcastle
- Allan Rodrigues (Eintracht Frankfurt) – 22 mins vs. Nurnberg
- Ryan Kent (Rangers) -90 mins vs. Aberdeen
- Ovie Ejaria (Rangers) – 90 mins vs. Aberdeen
Injured: Marko Grujic & Connor Randall
Not in action: Loris Karius, Adam Bogdan, Anderson Arroyo, Ben Woodburn, Sheyi Ojo, Shamal George
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