We’ve reached the point in the season where fans start to fall in love with a loan player. This an experience that every supporter of a lower league club will have been through at some point. When a player with so much potential joins and flourishes for your team, it’s hard not to get attached. In this week’s Liverpool loan report, a youngster shows his versatility, a goalkeeper returns to club action, and a winger continues to shine.
Liverpool Loan Report: Winger Continues To Shine
Ben Doak – Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough fans have truly fallen for Ben Doak. The skillful winger now has his own chant to the tune of Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen. Following an impressive international break where the 19-year-old established himself as a key player for Scotland, the former Celtic winger continued his momentum in a brilliant 6-2 win over Oxford United.
Read More: Middlesbrough Loan Star Ben Doak the Catalyst for Scotland’s Success
Doak drew a foul from Elliot Moore, allowing Emmanuel Latte Lath to equalise from the spot. The 19-year-old was uncharacteristically quiet for the rest of the game, only touching the ball 17 times. Perhaps the young winger was feeling the effects of a gruelling international break. There’s no time to rest though, Middlesbrough play Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
Giorgi Mamardashvili – Valencia
Valencia played their first game since October 27 in a 4-2 win over Real Betis. The victory lifted Los Ches off the bottom of the La Liga table. Giorgi Mamardashvili returned to match sharpness with two good performances for Georgia over the international break but didn’t have his best game this weekend.
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The 24-year-old’s distribution was poor, completing just 47% of his passes. He also struggles with his shot-stopping, conceding two goals from just four Betis shots on target. Mamardashvili will look to bounce back next week when Valencia travel to Mallorca.
Stefan Bajcetic – RB Salzburg
With manager Pep Lijnders under pressure following a poor start to the season, Stefan Bajcetic is being benched in favour of more established senior players. This has not changed the Austrian club’s fortunes, with them losing 2-1 to LASK this weekend. The Spanish U21 midfielder was given minutes off the bench but couldn’t impact the game, completing just 73% of his passes.
Luca Stephenson – Dundee United
Luca Stephenson showed his versatility again this weekend, playing in central midfield for the first time this season. The 21-year-old had a difficult game against Rangers but his side still earned a point away at the Scottish giants. The natural wing-back struggled to get involved in the game, touching the ball 27 times.
Read More: Liverpool Loan Report: International Opportunities for Reds Youngsters
Dundee are still an impressive fourth in the Scottish Premiership and Stephenson has been one of their best players this season. The 21-year-old will hope to return to a familiar position when his side welcomes St Mirren next weekend.
Lewis Koumas – Stoke City
Playing on the left wing, Lewis Koumas was quiet but efficient in Stoke City’s 1-1 draw with QPR. The 19-year-old touched the ball just 18 times but completed 90% of his passes. Emre Tezgel replaced the young attacker in the 72nd minute as manager Narcis Palach looked to find a late winner. The Potters face Preston North End on Tuesday before a clash with promotion hopefuls Burnley.
Nat Phillips – Derby County
Nat Phillips has finally broken into the Derby County starting lineup and helped his side to an important away point at Preston. Making just his fourth start of the season, the 27-year-old won five duels and made four clearances in a solid defensive performance. The big centre-back will hope to remain in the lineup for a midweek clash with Swansea City.
Rhys Williams – Morecambe
Things are slowly improving for Rhys Williams at Morecambe and the 23-year-old led his defence to another important win over Swindon Town this weekend. The centre-back won three of his four aerial duels as the Shrimps beat their closest relegation rivals. Liverpool will be keeping a close eye on the tall defender’s progress as his loan expires in January. With the Reds number 76 finally finding regular playing time, officials at Anfield are likely to want an extension to the loan.
Frustration For Liverpool as Injury Hits Wigan Pair
Liverpool’s pair of full-backs on loan at Wigan are both missing out with fitness problems. Calvin Ramsay hasn’t played since November 12 and Luke Chambers has returned to the AXA Training Centre for treatment on a back injury. The latter had been one of the League One side’s best players this season and the injury is a big blow. Calum Scanlon remains out with a back problem of his own but is nearing a return while Marcelo Pitaluga’s Livingston saw their game postponed this weekend.
