2 goals & 2 assists as loanees continue excellent end to the season – Liverpool FC Loan Watch

Liverpool’s loanees enjoyed another brilliant weekend of action as the excellent end to the season continued with two goals and two assists.

It’s a shame the campaign is coming to a close because the borrowed Reds have been in superb form in recent weeks.

The upturn in game time and top performances continued as 11 loanees played and delivered goals, assists and impressive displays.

Only Adam Bogdan (unused) and Pedro Chirivella (ineligible) missed out, while Loris Karius should join the action on Monday night as Besiktas face Alanyaspor.

Here’s what happened across the weekend.

 

Two European loanees produced the goals…

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Back in the starting XI, back on the scoresheet and back to top form.

That was the story of an excellent weekend for Marko Grujic, who capped off a superb display with a goal in Hertha Berlin’s incredible 4-3 win against Augsburg.

The Serbian – lining up as part of a double pivot in Hetha’s 4-2-3-1 system – scored his side’s second on 66 minutes to make it 2-2.

Valentino Lazaro delivered a good corner to the back post, and there was Grujic to rise highest and power a brilliant header into the top corner.

Hertha fell behind again four minutes later, but two late goals from ex-Chelsea forward Salomon Kalou snatched victory.

Grujic’s goal was his fifth of the season in 22 games for the Bundesliga side – impressive numbers for the midfielder.

Mouscron's Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates after scoring during a soccer game between Standard de Liege and Royal Excel Mouscron, Saturday 02 March 2019 in Liege, on the 28th day of the 'Jupiler Pro League' Belgian soccer championship season 2018-2019. BELGA PHOTO BRUNO FAHY

The man joining Grujic on the scoresheet was Taiwo Awoniyi, who has rediscovered his goalscoring groove at Mouscron.

After five outings without scoring the Nigerian netted his second in as many games in an entertaining 3-3 draw against Union Saint-Gilloise.

With Mouscron trailing 2-0, Awoniyi dragged his side back into the game with an excellent goal – spinning and finishing into the bottom corner after a neat give-and-go.

It was a vital goal – which you can see here – as it gave Mouscron inspiration to produce a superb fight-back and claim a point.

That’s now nine goals and three assists in 14 outings for Awoniyi in what has been a stunning second half to the season.

 

Two Reds closed the Premier League season with assists…

Southampton's Danny Ings during the Premier League match at St Mary's, Southampton (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/PA Images)

One of those came from Danny Ings, who ended a productive season at Southampton by setting up the goal in a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield.

Ings produced the ground-work for Nathan Redmond to put the Saints ahead, as he dropped deep to collect the ball and drove forward to feed the winger who struck a fantastic curling effort.

That final contribution capped off an impressive first campaign at St Mary’s for Ings – a third assist to go with eight goals in 24 games which saw him finish as Saints’ top scorer.

Indeed, there will be no Anfield return for Ings who has already agreed a £20 million permanent switch.

Nathaniel Clyne also ended his campaign with a rare assist as Bournemouth ended with a crazy 5-3 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Bournemouth's Nathaniel Clyne (Image: Mark Kerton/PA Wire. )

It was the full-back’s first goal contribution of a mixed six-month spell with Eddie Howe’s side, but it certainly wasn’t spectacular.

With Bournemouth 3-0 down, Clyne – who played at left-back – rolled a simple pass to Jefferson Lerma who unleashed an unstoppable 30-yard drive to pull one back.

Clyne’s simple contribution came in a poor defensive performance as he failed to cope with Wilfried Zaha on his 15th appearance for the Dean Court club.

The 28-year-old will now return to Liverpool to reassess his future but it seems certain that it lies away from Anfield.

 

Seven more Reds were in action at home and abroad…

Derby County's Harry Wilson (Nick Potts/PA Wire/PA Images)

Two Football League Reds kicked off play-off campaigns but neither made the winning start wanted.

Harry Wilson featured as Derby opened their push for promotion to the Premier League with a 1-0 loss to Leeds in the home leg of the semi-final tie.

The Welshman was in quiet form and it leaves his team facing a big task to turn the tie around in the Elland Road second leg which takes place on Wednesday night.

It was a similar story for Herbie Kane, as Doncaster went down 2-1 at home to Charlton in their League One semi-final tie.

Kane played the full match but lacked his usual influence as Donny were second best, and the midfielder faces a similarly uphill battle in Friday night’s second leg.

There were better fortunes north of the border as two Reds played in the penultimate weekend of the Scottish Premiership.

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Ryan Kent tasted victory in the Old Firm derby for the second time this season.

The winger played the full 90 as Rangers produced a statement 2-0 win over Celtic at Ibrox, with Kent in good form as a constant threat all afternoon.

After two impressive starts, Liam Millar disappointingly dropped back to Kilmarnock’s bench against a Bogdan-less Hibernian side.

The Canadian striker had to settle for a sub outing in the final 10 minutes, offering a counter-attack threat as his side saw out a 1-0 victory.

Three Reds were in action around the globe, and Kamil Grabara was the star as he helped take AGF Aarhus’ Europa League dreams one step closer to reality.

BURY, ENGLAND - Saturday, July 14, 2018: Liverpool's goalkeeper Kamil Grabara during a preseason friendly match between Bury FC and Liverpool FC at Gigg Lane. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Grabara played a key role in AGF’s semi-final win over AaB Aalborg, as he kept a clean sheet to inspire a 2-0 second leg win and a 3-0 aggregate triumph.

It means AGF now have a shot at winning Europa League qualification in a two-leg final against Randers, which takes place across the next two weekends.

Grabara will need to be in top form again to help turn AGF dreams into reality.

Allan Rodrigues has cemented a place in Fluminense’s midfield as he finally enjoys a regular run of top-flight games back in his homeland.

The Brazilian made a fourth successive start against Botafogo on Saturday and played the full game as his side lost 1-0.

After 12 games without a single minute of action, Sheyi Ojo featured for the second time in three games for Reims, though he was restricted to a late sub outing in a 3-2 loss to Caen.


Liverpool’s Loanees This Weekend

BIRKENHEAD, ENGLAND - Tuesday, July 10, 2018: Liverpool's Sheyi Ojo celebrates scoring the second goal during a preseason friendly match between Tranmere Rovers FC and Liverpool FC at Prenton Park. (Pic by Paul Greenwood/Propaganda)

Ineligible:Pedro Chirivella
Not in action:Adam Bogdan