The importance of the loan market was clear to everyone in Liverpool’s game with Crystal Palace. When Alisson went down with yet another injury, Vitezslav Jaros stepped up to make his Reds debut. The Czech goalkeeper wouldn’t have looked so comfortable between the sticks if he hadn’t spent time out on loan last season. The 23-year-old won the Austrian League and Cup with Sturm Graz. In this week’s Liverpool loan report: a winger makes his mark from the bench, a goalkeeper keeps an important clean sheet, and a full-back continues his excellent start to the season.
Liverpool Loan Report: Youngster Scores First Goal From Bench
Kaide Gordon – Norwich City
Kaide Gordon has had to settle for appearances from the bench in his opening month on loan at Norwich City. This weekend, he took a big step towards a place in the starting lineup. After coming on in the 58th minute, the 20-year-old won a loose ball in the Hull City penalty area and calmly slotted home into the bottom left corner.
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Gordon also helped Norwich retain possession and used his energy to disrupt Hull. He completed nine of his 10 passes and won four of his five duels as the Canaries won 4-0. The youngster has had a hard time with injuries since breaking into the Liverpool team aged 17 in 2021/22 but this loan gives him the perfect platform to rebuild his career.
Giorgi Mamardashvili – Valencia
Giorgi Mamardashvili’s Valencia knew a loss away to fellow strugglers Leganes would cause a crisis at the club. While the 24-year-old goalkeeper wasn’t forced to make a save, he led his defence excellently to ensure they kept things tight at the back during the 0-0 draw.
Despite being 18th in La Liga the Geogian’s side have only lost two of their last five games. Mamardashvili has kept three clean sheets in this time and is showing the kind of form that should encourage Liverpool fans. With Alisson struggling with injuries, the 24-year-old may be given a chance at Anfield next season.
Luca Stephenson – Dundee United
Luca Stephenson followed on from his two-assist performance last weekend with another excellent display as Dundee United beat St Mirren 1-0 away from home. The 21-year-old has been a standout among Liverpool’s loanees this season for the way he has thrived at a higher level. The right-wing-back is defensively sound and has shown creativity that he didn’t have last season on loan at Barrow.
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The 21-year-old has helped his side to a surprising fifth in the Scottish Premiership table. Last season, Dundee earned promotion from the Scottish Championship and were predicted to struggle for survival this year. Some smart signings, including Stephenson, have put any thoughts of relegation to the back of fans’ minds.
Ben Doak – Middlesbrough
Ben Doak has returned to earth this week following the highs of scoring his first Championship goal. First, he put in a solid but unspectacular display as Middlesbrough beat West Brom 1-0. The 18-year-old’s two key passes didn’t get him an assist and he missed another big chance to increase his side’s lead. He was replaced by Isaiah Jones in the 82nd minute as Michael Carrick looked to seal the win.
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Then, this weekend, Doak failed to have an impact as his side lost 2-1 to Watford. The 18-year-old’s lack of impact saw him replaced by Jones in the 65th minute. Two difficult away games have seen the young winger’s form take a hit. However, a week of rest and a return to The Riverside Stadium to take on Bristol City should see Doak’s confidence increase.
Lewis Koumas – Stoke City
Lewis Koumas has suffered a similar fate to Doak as his form has slowly tailed off since his goal. In midweek, the 18-year-old could only complete three passes even as Stoke City won 6-1 against Portsmouth. Koumas was good defensively during the thrashing, winning six of his eight ground duels and making three tackles but more would’ve been expected from the Welsh International going forward.
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This weekend, the right winger again struggled to get involved as his side drew 0-0 with Swansea City. Koumas did complete all eight of his attempted passes but all four of his crosses failed to find a target. The 18-year-old has once again been called up to the men’s Wales squad and will hope he gets a chance against either Iceland or Montenegro.
Stefan Bajcetic – RB Salzburg
Stefan Bajcetic probably had the toughest week of his career on the pitch as RB Salzburg suffered two humiliating losses. First, the nineteen-year-old was benched as the Austrian side lost 4-0 to Brest in the Champions League. No goals were scored after Bajcetic was introduced in the 77th minute but the defeat would’ve still hurt the Spanish youngster.
Things went from bad to worse for Salzburg on the weekend as they lost 5-0 to title rivals Sturm Graz. Bajcetic played the full game but managed just 55 touches, completing just 63% of his passes and winning just six of his 14 ground duels. The 19-year-old didn’t play well but this was more of a bad week for Salzburg than it was for the Spanish midfielder. Former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders has a lot of work on his hands to turn his side’s season around.
Calvin Ramsay – Wigan Athletic
Calvin Ramsay has had a confusing few seasons since joining Liverpool from Aberdeen. He has failed to lock down a starting spot anywhere and is again struggling at League One Wigan Athletic. In midweek, he was finally given a chance to start against Peterborough United. The 21-year-old appeared to play well, completing 94% of his passes but was replaced by James Carragher in the 68th minute. Then, this weekend he wasn’t included in the matchday squad as Wigan drew with Stockport County.
Luke Chambers – Wigan Athletic
Unlike Ramsay, Chambers has nailed down a starting spot at Wigan and continues to impress. Against Peterborough, Chambers’s accurate cross from the left found the head of Dale Taylor for the Latic opener. Against Stockport, the left-back’s superb defensive work helped his side to their sixth consecutive clean sheet.
Nat Phillips – Derby County
The oldest player in the Liverpool loan report made his first start for Derby as they lost 2-0 to Sunderland in midweek. He then returned to the bench for the Rams’ weekend clash against QPR. Nat Phillips replaced goalscorer Marcus Harness in the 74th minute as his side looked to protect their lead. The 27-year-old blocked a shot and made an important clearance to help the home side to a 2-0 win.
Rhys Williams – Morecambe
Rhys Williams’ loan struggles continued this week as his Morecambe team failed to get their first win of the campaign. In midweek, an 88th-minute equaliser stopped the Shrimps from taking all three points. Then, a 2-1 defeat to Accrington Stanley put the 23-year-old defender through more misery. A struggle for Williams this term has been his passing, he is completing just 57% of his passes attempted.
The Four That Didn’t Play
Only four Reds loanees didn’t play senior football this week. Goalkeepers Marcelo Pitaluga and Fabian Mrozek continue to be second choice at Livingston and IF Brommapojkarna respectively. Calum Scanlon is still recovering from a stress fracture in his back and will miss the next few months. Owen Beck is still suspended following his red card against Preston North End but did get some game time for Blackburn Rovers’s U21 side, assisting twice in a 3-2 win against Leicester City.
