LFC ACADEMY
Reds On Loan
Wrexham-born Harry Wilson made his LFC first-team debut against Plymouth Argyle FC in the FA Cup last season but with opportunities limited in 2017/18 the Welsh international has spent the second half of the campaign with Hull City FC. He's had the Tigers roaring.
The left-sided midfielder netted seven goals in his opening 12 games to help Nigel Adkins' side fly up the Championship table, banishing their relegation fears, and the Welsh international has already got his sights set on making an impact in a red shirt next season.
“I’ve come into a team that’s playing well and I’ve managed to chip in with a few goals and assists, which is even better,” he said. “I’m ready to go back to Liverpool in pre-season and try to stamp my mark on the team.”
Another attacking midfielder, Ryan Kent, is in his second loan spell of the season. The 21-year-old was with SC Freiburg in Germany before Christmas but after making just one Bundesliga appearance returned to the UK to play for Bristol City FC where he has played more regularly, but is yet to open his goalscoring account as the Robins chase a Play-Off place.
Ovie Ejaria and Sheyi Ojo have also been playing Championship football, albeit at different ends of the table. Ojo, who has scored once in 13 games for Liverpool FC, has been a regular at Fulham FC this season where he is helping the Craven Cottagers challenge for automatic promotion, netting four times so far in 2017/18.
Ejaria's club won't be playing Championship football next season either although not for the right reasons with Sunderland AFC relegated to the third tier of English football for only the second time having played in the old Third Division in 1987/88. The 20-year-old has yet to be on the winning side for the Black Cats.
Up in Scotland right-back Connor Randall, who has made eight first-team appearances for LFC, has been a mainstay in the Heart of Midlothian FC side that famously ended Celtic FC's record 69-game unbeaten domestic run before Christmas with a thumping 4-0 win while Spanish midfielder Pedro Chirivella has started 28 of Willem II Tilburg's 32 Eredivisie games and believes it has helped him to find his best position.
“Before [coming here] I would have said I could play in three positions in the midfield, now I say that I can play '6' or '8',” he said. “I would not see myself as a '10' as I used to see myself when I was at Valencia.”
Former Liverpool FC Academy full-back Jon Flanagan – a comparative veteran of 51 LFC first-team games – has also been on loan with Bolton Wanderers FC during the second half of 2017/18 with the 1-0 victory he helped them to achieve against Aston Villa FC in March potentially proving crucial as the Trotters try to avoid an immediate return to League One.
