Only nine of Liverpool’s loanees played this week, but it was a productive one as Harry Wilson, Lazar Markovic and Naby Keita all scored.
The borrowed Reds were back in top form enjoying a productive week of goals and impressive performances.
It wasn’t all positive as Daniel Sturridge, Marko Grujic, Ryan Kent, Sheyi Ojo, Ovie Ejaria and Corey Whelan all went unused while there was a season-ending injury for Taiwo Awoniyi.
But those who did play made up for the lack of action, and here’s the full lowdown.
Wilson just can’t stop scoring…
Crazy game yesterday, lads stuck together and got a well earned point in the end @HullCity , we go again next week? thanks to the travelling fans???? pic.twitter.com/ObBEerTyVT
— harry wilson (@harrywilson_) April 22, 2018
The Wales international’s stunning form at Hull continued as he scored a magnificent brace in an incredible 5-5 draw against a Ryan Kent-less Bristol City.
Wilson opened the scoring on a crazy afternoon with a classy goal—starting the move with driving run and neat one-two before finishing it with a brilliant left-footed curler from outside the box.
And after Hull fell 4-2 behind, Wilson stepped up to deliver the key moment which provided the inspiration for the fightback, with an effort of great ingenuity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmTiSwhmkXc
Wilson looked certain to cross a free-kick but instead surprised everyone as he whipped a Fabio Aurelio-vs-Chelsea-esque curler into the near-post top corner brilliantly catching out Frank Fielding.
It was a goal that showed everything about Wilson’s confidence in his superb form, which has seen him score seven goals and lay on four assists in 12 appearances.
Markovic was also among the goals…
It was less expected but just as pleasing to see the forgotten Serbian on the scoresheet as he netted his first goal for Anderlecht just a day shy of exactly a year on from his last.
Markovic added to his growing case for a regular starting role by grabbing his side’s equaliser in an eventual 2-1 loss to Genk on his return.
Playing on the left of a three-man attack the 24-year-old levelled with a superb finish—showing great composure and accuracy when one-on-one to fire into the top corner.
It was disappointing the goal didn’t count for more but it will give Markovic another welcome confidence boost.
There was also bad news with a season-ending injury for Awoniyi…
When your leading scorer and talisman is nowhere to be seen three games running you know something serious is up—and sadly it appears this is the case for Awoniyi.
After three games out it was reported the Nigerian’s season with Royal Excel Mouscron is over due to an injury which will rule him out for six weeks.
It’s a gutting way for the season to finish for Awoniyi, who has been a revelation and come of age in a sensational campaign in which he posted 10 goals and seven assists in 31 appearances.
Awoniyi will hope his form has caught Jurgen Klopp’s attentions for next season—or those of bigger European clubs should another loan move be preferred.
Seven more Reds were in action…
Three more European Reds were in action, but it was a winless week for all.
Pedro Chirivella had a rare outing to forget in Willem II’s midfield in a 5-1 loss to Feyenoord—with the Spaniard at fault for the visitors’ second which prompted his early withdrawal.
Divock Origi was limited to a cameo appearance in Wolfsburg’s 3-0 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach—entering for the last 15 minutes with his side already beaten.
Colombian full-back Anderson Arroyo saw his impressive eight-match winning streak with Real Mallorca B ended as he completed the full game in a 1-1 draw with UD Ibiza.
Four more home-based Reds played, including Connor Randall who was back in action at Hearts after having a rare weekend off last week to recharge.
The defender played the full 90 minutes in a slightly unfamiliar right wing-back role as his side went down 2-1 to Rangers in the Scottish Premier League.
Jon Flanagan was the only other Championship Red in action, but had a miserable return to the team at Bolton who were thrashed 4-0 by Premier League-bound Wolves.
Matty Virtue was in impressive form as Notts County claimed another crucial three points in the push for promotion from League Two with a 4-0 demolition of Corey Whelan-less Yeovil on Saturday.
Finally, Andy Firth continued between the sticks for already relegated National League side Chester City, who went down 3-1 to Maidstone in the penultimate game of a miserable season.
Keita Watch
There was only one outing for the soon-to-be Red this week, coming in a 5-2 loss to Hoffenheim which extended RB Leipzig’s winless run to four games.
Keita started on the bench due to his recent back injury but was typically impressive after coming on at half-time—by which time Leipzig already trailed 3-0—as he scored his ninth goal of the season, which you can watch here.
Keita gave his side hope with another superb solo effort to add to the collection—beating two players with slick footwork before rifling a shot which hit the post but went in after deflecting off the ‘keeper.
The luck was deserved after the brilliant initial play but it wasn’t enough to inspire an Istanbul-esque comeback.
Liverpool’s Loanees This Week
- Lazar Markovic – Unused sub vs. Standard Liege & played 79 mins, scoring vs. Genk
- Divock Origi – Played 15 mins vs. Borussia Monchengladbach
- Harry Wilson – Played 90 mins & scored twice vs. Bristol City
- Jon Flanagan – Played 90 mins vs. Wolves
- Connor Randall – Played 90 mins vs. Rangers
- Pedro Chirivella – Played 56 mins vs. Feyenoord
- Anderson Arroyo – Played 89 mins vs. UD Ibiza
- Matty Virtue – Played 90 mins vs. Yeovil
- Andy Firth – Played 90 mins vs. Maidstone
- Marko Grujic – Unused sub vs. Nottingham Forest
- Ovie Ejaria – Unused sub vs. Burton
- Corey Whelan – Unused sub vs. Accrington Stanley & Notts County
- Ryan Kent – Left out of matchday squad vs. Hull
- Sheyi Ojo – Left out of matchday squad vs. Millwall
- Taiwo Awoniyi – Injured and out for the rest of the season
- Daniel Sturridge – Ineligible to play vs. Liverpool
- Naby Keita – Played 45 mins & scored vs. Hoffenheim
Fan Comments