Liverpool Loan Watch: July 2020

Welcome to the final part of my series of monthly articles; tracking the progress of Liverpool’s loanees for the 2019/20 season. This has been an ongoing series, keeping fans up to date on how our players are getting on at their temporary homes.

If you didn’t catch my most recent piece, which looked at the players’ performance in May and June, you can find it here: http://fanscorners.com/liverpool-loan-watch-may-june-2020/

Let’s see how they got on in July…

Source: swanseacity.com

Rhian Brewster – Swansea City

Brewster’s July started in the same way June finished, with goals. He opened his account for the month with a poacher’s close-range finish in a 2-1 win over Garry Monk’s Sheffield Wednesday. Unfortunately, the striker was forced off late on with an injury. This didn’t prevent him from starting and scoring again in the next game, a 3-1 win away at Birmingham City. The Blues actually hit the lead through Lukas Jutkiewicz but Brewster had Swansea level with a volleyed goal shortly after, and Steve Cooper’s team never looked back. This proved to be the end for Pep Clotet at Birmingham, the Spaniard sacked after an awful run of results, though he was on a hiding to nothing all season in my eyes. Brewster was not able to keep up his scoring form as Swansea were defeated late on by newly-promoted Leeds, former Swan Pablo Hernandez netting an 89^th minute winner in a game that Brewster operated on the fringes.

They bounced back well, getting an admirable draw away at Nottingham Forest, which turned out to be a crucial point. Brewster got his ninth Swansea goal with an emphatic finish early on to give Cooper’s men the lead, although this was his only real involvement in an exciting 2-2 draw after Forest drew back with a brace from Sammy Ameobi. Swansea won their penultimate league game, at home to Bristol City, despite Brewster spurning two good chances to score. Then came the big moment. Brewster gave Swansea the lead in their final league game at Reading with a long-distance strike, and with Swansea winning 4-1 and Nottingham Forest losing to Stoke by the same scoreline, Swansea took Forest’s place in the playoffs courtesy of Sabri Lamouchi’s men having a meltdown of epic proportions. Brewster won a penalty for Swansea in the first leg of the playoffs against Brentford, which Andre Ayew missed. Ayew redeemed himself with a goal later on to give Swansea a 1-0 lead going into the second leg. Brewster’s game was good, hard-working and saw plenty of the ball. Despite scoring a cute lofted finish late into the second leg, a first-half onslaught was enough for Brentford to book their place in the final, where they will play Fulham. That means that Brewster’s extremely successful time in Wales comes to an end after eleven goals in 22 appearances. He has certainly made a bid to be involved with Liverpool next season, though Steve Cooper is understandably very keen to take him back to Swansea again. After a couple of injuries, it has been great to see Brewster start to deliver on his potential.

Ovie Ejaria – Reading

Reading started July superbly, thrashing Luton Town 5-0 away from home, the club’s biggest win since 2014. Ejaria started on the left of the attack and stood out for his close control and a lovely through ball to set up Yakou Meite’s third goal. An unspecified injury kept Ejaria out for the rest of the season, missing Reading’s last three games as they secured another season in the Championship, finishing 14^th. Ejaria’s loan deal was due to become permanent at Reading this summer, which would bring to an end his association with Liverpool, although manager Mark Bowen has cast doubt on the move, saying he is unsure about whether any of Reading’s loan players, which also includes Matt Miazga, will remain in Berkshire next season. This is a story to keep an eye on as it develops this summer.

Herbie Kane – Hull City

Herbie Kane’s loan spell at Hull was summed up in two actions during the first half of their crucial win over Middlesbrough on the opening day of July. Kane was controlling things and scored a fabulous free-kick to draw the Tigers level after conceding early against Neil Warnock’s team, but was agonisingly taken off with an injury midway through the first half. This was yet another cruel blow for a player who has shown plenty of quality in East Yorkshire but has been blighted by badly-timed injuries when he has been in flow. It meant that he missed the disastrous end to Hull’s season, as they ended up relegated to League One after a 1-0 loss at home to Luton. Whether this experience will have been beneficial for Kane is up for debate, as while he has played well at times, the club has been a shambles this year, selling their Championship status in January when they chose to move their star duo Kamil Grosicki and Jarrod Bowen on. Injuries to the likes of Kane, Jordy De Wijs and Tom Eaves also had an impact, as did the non-extension of Eric Lichaj and Jackson Irvine’s contracts, but it is hard to look past the ownership, who have dragged Hull City into the mire with their lack of investment and care for the club.

Ben Woodburn – Oxford United

Woodburn made his first Oxford appearance since October, in the club’s biggest game of the season. Karl Robinson’s team took on Portsmouth in the first leg of their playoff semi-final, which they drew 1-1. Woodburn lasted just shy of an hour and though had little impact on the cagey contest, it was great to see him back after so long. The second leg also ended 1-1 and he was brought on in the latter stages of extra-time, with a view to the penalty shootout. Despite such a lack of football this season, Woodburn was given the responsibility of Oxford’s first penalty, which he slotted home nicely. The U’s booked their place in the final against Wycombe by downing Portsmouth in the shootout, another former Liverpool man Cameron Brannagan scoring the decisive spot-kick. There was heartbreak at Wembley though, as a late Wycombe penalty saw them defeat Oxford 2-1 and secure promotion to the Championship in the final. Woodburn came on in the last few minutes of the showpiece affair but didn’t touch the ball. The Welshman has done well in the small number of appearances he has made and he will hope that his 2020/21, whether at Liverpool or out on loan, is not as affected by injury.

Harry Wilson – Bournemouth

Bournemouth’s awful run of form continued into July, when they lost their first two matches convincingly – 1-4 at home to Newcastle and 5-2 away at Manchester United. Wilson was used as a sub in both defeats. The Cherries were back to winning ways with a stunning 4-1 win over faltering Leicester City, though Wilson was an unused sub. He at least got some time on the pitch, 13 minutes, as Bournemouth were narrowly beaten by Manchester City. The winger was brought on at half time for fellow Welshman David Brooks in the South Coast derby with Southampton, but had no effect on the game as the Saints ran out 2-0 winners. Despite winning their last game of the season 3-1 against Everton, Bournemouth were relegated due to Aston Villa picking up a point at West Ham. Wilson was brought on for the last two minutes of Bournemouth’s time in the Premier League. This has been a loan spell that started really well but has massively dropped off in the second half of the season and it is perhaps difficult to see what happens from here. Will he be loaned out again or might Liverpool look to sell?

Anderson Arroyo – Mlada Boleslav

The Czech season finished with Arroyo making just two appearances for Mlada Boleslav. There is genuine hope for him among the Liverpool ranks, so his next loan move is important.

Thanks for reading the final instalment of this season’s loan watch. See you again next season!

Daniel (@daykind19)

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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.

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