Liverpool Loan Watch: December 2020

The loan watch is back! Welcome to the fourth instalment in the 2020/21 loan watch series. This is the third year I have run the loan watch – a series of monthly articles analysing all of Liverpool’s out-on-loan players. Recent years have seen the likes of Ovie Ejaria, Harry Wilson, Herbie Kane, Marko Grujic, Taiwo Awoniyi, Rhian Brewster, Ryan Kent and Kamil Grabara all have successful spells, and the club will be hoping for more fruitful loan periods from its eleven loanees this season.

Let’s see how they got on in December…

Marko Grujic – FC Porto

Grujic’s suspension from the November win over Marseille kept him out of the 0-0 draw with Manchester City, which confirmed Porto as runners-up in Group C behind Pep Guardiola’s men. He got seven minutes from the bench in a thrilling 4-3 league win over Tondela, and this would not be the only time Grujic would be involved against the Northern Portuguese club. The Serbian was one of Porto’s best players in a 2-0 win in Greece over Olympiacos in the final group stage game, playing the full 90. The midfielder’s second encounter of the month with Tondela came in the third round of the cup, him marshalling the centre of the park for 90 minutes as Porto progressed with a 2-1 win. He was involved in cup action again, this time the League Cup, coming off the bench to help Porto make it into the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Pacos Ferreira. It was more minutes from the bench as Porto secured a comfortable 2-0 win against Nacional in the league. Grujic got his hands on a piece of silverware for the first time as Porto, coming on as a late sub in their 2-0 win over Benfica to secure the Portuguese Super Cup. His 2020 was rounded off with another appearance from the bench in a 3-2 away win at Vitoria, which leaves Porto 3^rd in the league.

Sheyi Ojo – Cardiff City

Cardiff got off to a superb start in December, defeating Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield Town 3-0 at home, with Ojo putting in arguably his best performance for City so far, running riot on the left-wing and constantly providing overlapping runs. The winger was excellent again in an impressive 1-0 win away at Watford, causing all manner of problems for Jeremy Ngakia in wide areas. He was a threat again, though not quite as potent, as Cardiff made it four wins in a row with a superb 2-1 victory on the road at Michael O’Neill’s Stoke City. However, the Bluebirds couldn’t keep up their run of form, losing to their fierce rivals Swansea 2-0 at home, with Ojo having little influence on the game until the latter stages. It was another quiet showing for the winger in a dramatic 3-2 win over Birmingham City at home. Cardiff were very disappointing in a 2-0 loss to league leaders Norwich, though Ojo was the main threat and had a good afternoon at Carrow Road. There was another defeat for the Bluebirds, this time at home to Brentford, with Ojo struggling to impress this time. 2020 ended with another poor defeat for the misfiring Welshmen, losing 2-1 to Championship strugglers Wycombe. Ojo blew an early chance and then failed to have any impact on the match.

Adam Lewis – Amiens SC

Lewis has not featured in December as rumours over an early end to his spell in France have started to circulate.

Ben Woodburn – Blackpool

Neil Critchley’s Blackpool started December very well indeed, beating promotion-chasing Portsmouth 1-0, with Woodburn coming off the bench for the final stages. The Welshman was an unused substitute as Blackpool defeated seaside rivals Fleetwood away from home 1-0 in another superb result. There was a rare start for Woodburn in midfield in a goalless draw with Oxford, but he didn’t impose himself on the game and was a passenger for much of it. The Tangerines recorded their best result of the campaign so far, beating runaway league leaders Hull City 3-2 in an eventful game at Bloomfield Road. Woodburn was only on the pitch for the final five minutes but still produced a telling moment, cleverly flicking the ball in the build-up to Blackpool’s late winner. He was an unused sub in a scrappy 0-0 draw away at Accrington Stanley and then did not feature in Blackpool’s loss to Shrewsbury Town.

Harry Wilson – Cardiff City

It was a happy start to the last month of 2020, with Wilson’s Cardiff comfortably seeing off Huddersfield. Wilson’s delivery, both from set-pieces and open play, was a threat all evening. His delivery was once again a highlight in a terrific away win at Watford, and though Cardiff made it four wins in a row at Stoke City three days later, Wilson was on the periphery for much of it. The Welshman had arguably his worst game for Cardiff at a crucial time though, in a 2-0 defeat to rivals Swansea. He was at fault for Jamal Lowe’s goal and offered very little in the way of creativity, surprisingly. Wilson responded perfectly, with his best performance of the season, an exceptional individual display to help Neil Harris’ team to a 3-2 home win over Birmingham. He registered two assists – one for Robert Glatzel and one for Sean Morrison, while also finishing well himself from a tight angle past former Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge. He created a couple of chances with his impeccable set-piece delivery away at Norwich but struggled to have much influence on a game that saw Cardiff starved of possession. The Welshman was one of Cardiff’s more threatening players in the 3-2 home loss to Brentford, although he couldn’t provide the moment of quality they so badly needed. He was the only player who looked like crating something for Cardiff in their loss at Wycombe, everything positive going through him.

Harvey Elliott – Blackburn Rovers

Young Harvey Elliott continued to impress this month, kicking off with a very good performance in a win over Millwall, which included a cool finish in the first half for his second Blackburn goal. His pass selection and vision were a delight as Rovers held on to defeat Gary Rowett’s team 2-1. He had a quieter game though, as Tony Mowbray’s team earned a valuable point away at Brentford, but was more influential, particularly in the first half, in the clash at Ashton Gate. Though Blackburn fell to a 1-0 loss against Bristol City, the winger played some delightful passes as Rovers were left to rue their missed chances in the first half. Elliott put in his best Blackburn performance to date in the home loss to league leaders Norwich, scoring a scintillating solo goal to level the game after Teemu Pukki’s opening goal. His first touch and ability to go past people is very good for his age. It was another marvellous individual performance from the winger as Blackburn came from behind to see off Rotherham 2-1, the loanee getting the equaliser after a beautifully-timed run, and showing tremendous composure on the ball all night. Rovers were outclassed by the defensively-excellent Stoke City, with Welsh left-back Morgan Fox doing an effective marking job on Elliott. Blackburn faced Sheffield Wednesday next, and drew 1-1, with Elliott providing the assist for the equaliser. He had a rare poor game as Blackburn were defeated by the impressive Huddersfield outfit, struggling defensively and picking out some inaccurate passes.

Morgan Boyes – Fleetwood Town

Welsh defender Morgan Boyes finally got back in the Fleetwood squad after a while out, starting in the draw in the Papa John’s Trophy game against Blackpool, helping Joey Barton’s team to a clean sheet. He was an unused sub in the 0-0 league draw away at Portsmouth but then didn’t feature in the rest of Fleetwood’s December squads.

Tony Gallacher – Toronto FC

Tony Gallacher’s surprising loan move to the MLS was officially ended on 1^st December, with the Scottish left-back leaving Toronto after their MLS Cup exit in the first round, thus bringing an end to their season.

Loris Karius – Union Berlin

Loris Karius finally made his Union Berlin debut in December, starting in the German Cup. However, it was not a happy outing for the goalkeeper, as his side were 3-1 down at half-time to Paderborn, and ended up exiting the cup with a 3-2 scoreline.

Taiwo Awoniyi – Union Berlin

Awoniyi started December well on a personal note, scoring the opening goal with a slightly scuffed finish to give Union the lead in the Berlin derby, but that was as good as it got, with Hertha coming back in the second half to take the bragging rights with a 3-1 victory. The Nigerian striker once again started, this time against reigning Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, though could not get on the scoresheet, despite his team holding Bayern to a very respectable 1-1 draw. It was a bittersweet evening in Stuttgart for Awoniyi, who put Union 2-0 up with a brilliant bullet header in the second half as his good form continued but was ultimately left frustrated as Union conceded twice in the last six minutes to ensure that the spoils would be shared. Union recorded a brilliant win over Borussia Dortmund at home in their next fixture, with Awoniyi scoring his third goal of the month, finding space to nod in from a corner. The striker continued his run of starts by being chosen for the cup tie with Paderborn, but was not able to keep his side in the competition.

Kamil Grabara – AGF Aarhus

Grabara’s Danish team made a very good start to December, recording back-to-back wins over Brondby and Horsens, the goalkeeper starting both victories. There was then success in the cup for AGF, again getting the better of Horsens, this time by a 1-0 scoreline, Grabara getting his second clean sheet of the season. He backed this up with another shut-out in a 3-0 home win over Aalborg.

• 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