With domestic football reconvening at home and across the continent after the international break, we take a look at how Liverpool’s loaned men fared this weekend.
Luis Alberto was yet again one of the big positives of the Reds’ loanees, as he continued his impressive spell with Deportivo de La Coruna by registering his sixth league assist this season.
Starting in the No. 10 role for Victor Sanchez’s side, Alberto turned in a typically influential performance as the creative hub of the Depor team, making the opening goal of the night after 20 minutes in their 1-1 draw against Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Making a darting run towards the byline, he swivelled and fired a dangerous low ball across the six-yard box which was converted by Celso Borges at the back post, helping Sanchez’s side to earn a good point as the 23-year-old completed the full 90 minutes.
It was also a productive Saturday for another of Liverpool’s Spanish loaned men, with Sergi Canos finding the net for Brentford in the Championship.
That feeling….??????? Can't wait for Tuesday now…. #brentfordfc pic.twitter.com/vTbSyciNSG
— Sergi Canós Tenés (@sergicanos) April 3, 2016
The young midfielder started among the substitutes in the Bees’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest, but entered for the final 20 minutes and made a fantastic impact, coming on to score the match-sealing third for Dean Smith’s side at the City Ground.
Making a good run forward as the Bees attacked and being found by Lasse Vibe, Canos showed excellent composure in front of goal to slot into the bottom corner for his 5th goal of the season to cap off a bright cameo display.
Back on the continent, Samed Yesil endured a bittersweet weekend as his disappointing loan spell at Luzern saw him left out of first-team involvement for their 5-1 win over Vaduz.
Samed Yesil erzielte beim 3:0 der #FCLU21 gegen Wangen a.A. alle drei Tore >https://t.co/aD1yBYR9CO#FCLuzern #FCL pic.twitter.com/3huq3ziDYU
— FC Luzern (@FCL_1901) April 4, 2016
Instead, the German striker featured for the club’s reserve side in Liga Classic Group 2 – Switzerland’s fourth division – and positively, he netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Wangen – poaching his first strike from a corner and his second with a free-kick – which he will hope secures a first-team return.
And in Italy, Mario Balotelli enjoyed a rare outing for AC Milan, impressing with a bright half-hour cameo in the Rossoneri’s poor 2-1 defeat at Atalanta on Sunday afternoon.
With Milan searching for a winner, boss Sinisa Mihajolovic turned to the Reds’ striker after 58 minutes to provide the inspiration – which Balotelli nearly did, seeing a brilliant free-kick tipped around the post after also creating two good chances for his side which went to waste.
In the Premier League, after a long spell sidelined Andre Wisdom made a welcome return to action for Norwich in their vital 3-2 win over Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle at Carrow Road.
The Reds defender completed 90 minutes at right-back due to injuries to captain Russell Martin and Ivo Pinto, and he turned in a solid defensive display up against the powerful Moussa Sissoko – earning praise of boss Alex Neil – to help the Canaries to three huge points.
Back in Europe, it was a largely positive if unproductive weekend of action for Liverpool’s young loanees abroad.
In Germany, Taiwo Awoniyi continued his positive spell of action for Frankfurt FSV, playing the full 90 minutes of their clash with Nurnburg on Sunday, but struggled to make an impact in the 3-0 loss to the league leaders.
In Belgium, Allan Rodrigues also enjoyed a good amount of action, playing just shy of 70 minutes of Sint Truiden’s 1-0 loss to Mechelen, in which the Brazilian made little impact from his left-sided role as his team slumped to a fifth defeat in six games.
Meanwhile in Serbia, Marko Grujic was missing for Red Star Belgrade’s goalless draw with FK Vojvodina on Saturday.
In the Football League, it was a weekend of no action for the Reds’ League One and Two loanees for contrasting reasons.
Uninvolved in two games over the bank holiday Easter weekend, Lloyd Jones missed a third game in a row on Saturday for Blackpool, as the young defender continues to have his comeback from a long-term injury sensibly managed.
And having missed Portsmouth’s 4-0 win over Notts County due to international activity with Scotland U21s, Ryan Fulton returned to Fratton Park – but had to settle for a place on the bench as Pompey claimed a 1-0 win over Carlisle on Saturday.
Finally, academy youngster Will Marsh was uninvolved in both of Sheffield Wednesday’s U21 games against QPR and Huddersfield.
Liverpool FC Loaned Men This Week
- Balotelli – AC Milan – Played 32 mins vs. Atalanta
- Alberto – Deportivo – Played 90 mins & assisted vs. Celta Vigo
- Wisdom – Norwich – Played 90 mins vs. Newcastle
- Canos – Brentford – Played 20 mins & scored vs. Nottingham Forest
- Yesil – Luzern Reserves – Played 90 mins & scored hat-trick vs. Wengen
- Awoniyi – Frankfurt – Played 90 mins vs. Nurnburg
- Allan – Sint Truidense – Played 66 mins vs. Mechelen
- Fulton – Portsmouth – Unused substitute vs. Carlisle
- Jones – Blackpool – Left out of matchday squad vs. Southend
- Grujic – Red Star – N/A
- Marsh – Sheffield Wednesday – N/A
Injuries
Due to a tearing a muscle, Lawrence Vigouroux missed a third game in a row for Swindon, where Jordan Williams also remains out of action, while Lazar Markovic missed his 20th game this season for Fenerbahce this weekend.
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