Liverpool Loan Watch: December 2019

Welcome to the fifth part of my series of monthly articles; tracking the progress of Liverpool’s loanees for the 2019/20 season. This is an ongoing series which will hopefully help keep fans up to date on how our players are getting on at their temporary homes. The club has fourteen players on loan, and this series will follow their campaigns closely, and assess which of the loaned players are likely to have a future at Anfield. This series was something I enjoyed writing last season, and hopefully we will see players have similar successes to those that were out on loan last season.

If you didn’t catch my November piece, you can find it here: http://fanscorners.com/liverpool-loan-watch-november-2019/

Let’s see how they got on in December…

Marko Grujic – Hertha Berlin

There was huge frustration for Hertha Berlin as they blew a 2-0 lead away at Eintracht Frankfurt, eventually drawing 2-2. Grujic was the architect of the two-goal lead that they enjoyed, after assisting the first goal and scoring the second – a tap-in after a nicely worked free kick. This was one of Grujic’s best performances for Hertha so far, starring as they changed to a 3-4-3 formation. Grujic was also superb as Hertha beat Freiburg 1-0, winning everything in the air, a really dominant midfield performance. The Serb was excellent as Hertha defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 away from home, breaking up play and winning plenty in the air. Unfortunately, a booking in this game meant that he accumulated enough yellow cards to be suspended for the visit of this year’s surprise package, Borussia Monchengladbach, who they drew 0-0 with in their final game of 2019.

Liam Millar – Kilmarnock

Millar started a home tie with St Johnstone that ended goalless but struggled to make any impact on the game and was duly subbed off in the second half. Millar’s end product was once again criticised as his side fell to a 3-0 defeat to the well-organised Livingston. Another disappointing day for Millar and Kilmarnock was next, as they lost 1-0 to Ross County, with Millar playing 86 minutes and failing to influence the game. Angelo Alessio was duly dismissed as manager after the poor run, and the first game following his departure was a 1-0 defeat at home to Motherwell, who have been impressive this season. Millar was used for 17 minutes from the bench, with Killie already behind to Jake Carroll’s excellent free-kick. He was back in from the start at Ibrox though, Killie defeated 1-0 by Rangers after a goal from Alfredo Morelos, Millar being starved of any service during the Rangers-dominated game. The Canadian got the full 90 as Killie ended 2019 with a poor defeat at St Mirren, many fans questioning Millar’s variety in his play, as he continues to spend a lot of time out wide. His side are out of the top six as the calendar year draws to a close and are on the search for a new manager to replace Alessio too.

Nathaniel Phillips – VFB Stuttgart

Phillips started Stuttgart’s first fixture of December, a 2-1 defeat to Sandhausen. He played the full 90 and picked up a booking in the match. He completed the match again as his side defeated Nurnberg 3-1. The Englisman kept his place for a trip to Darmstadt, impressing with his success rate in the aerial duels. He was not involved in the club’s final game of 2019 though, a 2-2 draw with Hannover, leaving Stuttgart 3^rd at the end of the year. The Darmstadt match proved to be Phillips’ last game for Stuttgart for the time being, the centre-back being recalled to Liverpool in late December, possibly with a view to him providing cover at the back with the current injuries of Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip meaning that Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez are the only fit senior centre-backs.

Ovie Ejaria – Reading

Ejaria missed Reading’s first game of the month and his absence was clearly felt by Reading, who were beaten 3-2 at home by Pep Clotet’s impressive Birmingham side. His return to the side was a tough one, the midfielder enduring a fruitless night as Reading drew 1-1 away at Barnsley. He was more impressive in a goalless draw with Stoke, taking people on and looking threatening. Reading battered Phillip Cocu’s Derby, who have only won once away from home all season, by a score of 3-0. Ejaria started this game on the left wing and struggled to have any meaningful impact in an unfamiliar position. He stayed in this position for the Boxing Day win over QPR and could’ve scored early on, though was still important as his side ground out the 1-0 result. Reading’s third win and fourth clean sheet in a row came in a 2-0 win at faltering Preston, with Ejaria again utilised on the left. He was lively and hit the post early on, while impressing in the second half because of his defensive output as Preston saw out the victory.

Sheyi Ojo – Rangers

Ojo’s first gametime of the month was as a sub in Rangers’ 5-0 home win over Hearts, getting 23 minutes after replacing Ryan Kent, who had scored. Ojo made very little impact though the Gers did score twice while he was on the pitch, both goals coming from Greg Stewart. Rangers threw away a two-goal lead over Aberdeen at Pittodrie, with Ojo coming on from the bench and once again struggling in the 2-2 draw. There was cup final heartbreak for Rangers as Celtic won 1-0 at Hampden, despite Rangers absolutely dominating the match and missing a penalty in the second half. Ojo remained an unused substitute. He came on from the bench as Rangers drew 1-1 with Young Boys to book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League. The Gers were leading 1-0 when Ojo entered the fray, though the Swiss side equalised and cost Rangers top spot after a ridiculous free-kick given away by Ojo, the lowlight of a dreadful cameo from the winger who was omitted from the squad entirely for the 2-0 win at Motherwell. He was at least back on the bench for a 3-0 win away at Hibernian, now managed by former Sunderland man Jack Ross, and Ojo got a brief spell from the bench towards the end of the game, however wasn’t involved at all in the Boxing Day win over Kilmarnock. Rangers’ final game of 2019 was the big one – Celtic away. Ojo was on the bench and remained an unused sub as the Gers earned their first win at Celtic Park since 2010 to blow the title race wide open, sparking crazy celebrations from Steven Gerrard.

Ben Woodburn – Oxford United

Woodburn’s recovery from injury continued in December, as he missed the goalless draw with Shrewsbury. Oxford were surprisingly beaten 1-0 by struggling MK Dons, though put in an excellent performance as they took the game to Man City and exited the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on a proud performance. Karl Robinson’s side recorded a brilliant 1-0 win over surprise league leaders Wycombe Wanderers and then defeated Lincoln by the same scoreline. Oxford’s brilliant month ended with a 2-1 away win at Wimbledon that propelled them into the automatic promotion places.

Harry Wilson – Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s month started negatively, with a fourth consecutive loss after Crystal Palace came out on top 1-0 at Selhurst Park in Amazon Prime’s first ever Premier League game. Wilson started and showed a few nice moments including a glorious low cross early in the second half that should’ve been turned home, but overall it was a pretty disappointing night and he could’ve been better in possession. Due to the terms of his loan, Wilson was ineligible to play in Bournemouth’s 3-0 defeat to Liverpool, Ryan Fraser starting instead of him. The Welshman missed the trip to Chelsea with a dead leg, Eddie Howe’s team earning a superb 1-0 win against the Blues. The same injury kept him out of a dire 1-0 loss at home to Burnley. Wilson returned for the Boxing Day clash with Arsenal, Mikel Arteta’s first game in charge of the Gunners. He came off the bench after 65 minutes and was bright, though made a mess of a late free-kick, electing to shoot when a cross was clearly the better option. Wilson was back in from the start for the derby game with Brighton and was involved in some of Bournemouth’s most promising attacks, though was taken off early in the second half of a game that his side lost 2-0, bringing their 2019 to an end with a really bad run of form.

Kamil Grabara – Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield were beaten 2-0 at home by their promotion-chasing rivals Leeds, who scored through Ezgjan Alioski and Pablo Hernandez. Grabara perhaps should’ve done better for Alioski’s distance strike but made a world-class save to deny Patrick Bamford in the second half. He kept a fourth clean sheet of the season as Huddersfield won 1-0 away at Charlton, the Pole saving well from Jonathan Leko in the first half. Huddersfield travelled to Wigan next and drew 1-1. Grabara made a terrible clearance for the Wigan goal in one of his shakier displays for the Terriers. He made up for it with a superb showing at home against Nottingham Forest, who have really gone off the boil lately, making three great saves late on to preserve his side’s 2-1 win. Huddersfield were beaten by Middlesbrough on Boxing Day and while Grabara could do nothing about the goal, he made a good save late on to prevent Ashley Fletcher. He was really good as Huddersfield finished 2019 with a 2-1 win over Blackburn, making a few decent saves to help his side to victory.

Loris Karius – Besiktas

Besiktas’ healthy league form continued with a 4-1 win over Kayserispor early in December, Karius starting and conceding a goal to former Arsenal and Tottenham man Emmanuel Adebayor. The German was rested for Besiktas’ cup tie with Erzicanspor, which they won 3-0. Karius’ team rose to 2^nd with a 3-2 win away at Kasimpasa, the on-loan goalkeeper returning to the team for the league fixtures. Karius missed out on a return to England to take on Wolves, with his team’s terrible Europa league campaign coming to an end with a heavy defeat to the Midlands side. He was back in the team against Yeni, but endured a difficult afternoon, the away side winning 2-0, scoring a penalty to secure the game late on. The Besiktas-Fenerbahce rivalry was resumed, and it wasn’t a good day for Karius, who conceded three times as his side fell to defeat. The German started their final game of 2019, a 4-1 win at home to Genclerbirligi. The away side had two men sent off in the first half, including former Dundee United and Celtic striker Nadir Ciftci, though still took the lead through ex-Fulham attacker Floyd Ayite, before Besiktas took over in the second half, scoring four times to leave Besiktas in 3^rd at the end of 2019.

Allan Rodrigues de Souza – Fluminense

First up in December for Allan was a 1-1 draw with Avai in which he started and was booked, before being subbed off in the second half. The Brazilian didn’t feature in the penultimate game of the league season, a 0-0 draw with Fortaleza. He also wasn’t used in Fluminense’s 2-1 win over Corinthians, the final game of the Brazilian Serie A season which saw Allan’s side finish 14th.

Anderson Arroyo – Mlada Boleslav

Mlada opened the month with a 3-1 win over Teplice, though Arroyo remained on the bench, with former Sheffield Wednesday man Daniel Pudil starting at left-back instead of the Colombian. He didn’t make the squad as his side were beaten by heavyweights Sparta Prague. Mlada’s final game of 2019 was a 2-3 loss at home to Jablonec, with Arroyo not involved once again.

Taiwo Awoniyi – Mainz 05

Mainz started the month with a 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, though Awoniyi never made it on and remained an unused substitute. The Nigerian striker was given his longest stint from the bench so far for Mainz, being introduced at half-time against Augsburg, though had very little influence on the game, which his side lost 2-1. He was an unused sub as his team were battered 4-0 by Borussia Dortmund. Mainz were 5-0 winners over Werder Bremen in an astonishing scoreline, though Awoniyi still remained on the bench. He didn’t even make the squad in the final game of 2019, a 1-0 loss against Bayer Leverkusen.

Shamal George – Marine 

George sat out the 1-1 draw with Clitheroe before pulling off a really good performance in a 3-0 win over Wakefield-based Ossett United. He didn’t feature in a goalless draw with Dunston. It was a happy Christmas time for George and his team, as they defeated City of Liverpool in the local derby 4-0 on Boxing Day.

Rhys Williams – Kidderminster Harriers

First up in December for Williams and Kidderminster was a 1-1 stalemate with Gateshead, in which Williams played the full 90. After this game, a change of manager came at the Harriers, with former West Brom caretaker boss Jimmy Shan taking the reins. Shan’s first game was a 3-1 home loss to Boston, in which Williams started and finished the game. The Harriers won away at Guiseley though, with Williams playing every minute. He was again involved from the start in a 1-1 draw with Altrincham. Williams started again as Kidderminster comfortably beat Hereford 3-1. He kept his spot for the trip to 5^th-placed Brackley, though was sent off for a terrible challenge in the second half as his side fell to a 2-0 loss.

Thanks for reading my loan watch, I hope you enjoyed it. See you again for January’s report!

Daniel (@daykind19)

• About
• Latest Posts

Daniel Daykin

A non-biased voice of reason among fellow Liverpool fans. I'll always tell you the truth, no matter how hard you find it to accept. I miss Suarez. A lot.

Latest posts by Daniel Daykin (see all)

• Liverpool Loan Watch: March 2021 - April 6, 2021
• Liverpool Loan Watch: February 2021 - March 8, 2021
• Liverpool Loan Watch: January 2021 - February 6, 2021