Liverpool’s loan players have three figures they can turn to for inspiration regarding their future at Anfield.
Jarell Quansah’s recent contract extension was certainly excellent news for the young defender, but it may also have sparked some private excitement among others. His journey has been well documented since his senior debut during a dramatic win with 10 men against Newcastle United in August 2023.
Quansah earned his first full start the following month at Wolves, and since then, he has established himself in the Premier League.
While the 21-year-old may not often reflect on his time spent on loan with Joey Barton at Bristol Rovers, his rapid ascent to first-team prominence—now underscored by his new contract—could serve as motivation for others currently on loan.
In the past, a loan spell often signaled the decline of a player’s career at Merseyside, but recent years have shown that this is no longer the case for Liverpool. Jarell Quansah, in particular, could serve as a role model for those currently on short-term loans.
Stefan Bajcetic, for example, likely has few long-term worries about his position at Liverpool, given his performances under Jurgen Klopp before a serious injury in March 2023. Comments from Arne Slot on transfer deadline day reinforced the notion that the young Spaniard’s future remains with the Reds, even while on loan at Red Bull Salzburg.
“If you are that young and you’ve been out for so long, the only thing you need is playing time,” Slot remarked. “He could have playing time over here, but we’ve got six or seven very good midfielders, so his playing time here will always be more limited than we expect him to play at Salzburg.
“So for him, and us, we think it’s best for him to play at the moment, instead of maybe playing a few times and then being on the bench for a long time again. It’s very difficult to keep a player fit who’s been out for 15 months when you only play him once in a while.
“This is for the long term. Again, this club has been smart, in my opinion, in the past for not only looking for the short term but also the long term. It’s a smart decision, at least in our opinion, to let him go somewhere where he will hopefully play a lot of games. Then for next season, we’ll have a player. If he fulfills his potential, [he] could definitely, definitely play for us in the future.”
However, the futures of other loanees like Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon are less certain. Both wingers were loaned to Middlesbrough and Norwich City, respectively, on deadline day.
It’s been over three years since Gordon made his senior debut in a Carabao Cup match against Norwich, and he just turned 20 on October 5. The former Derby County winger had outgrown the Under-21 setup toward the end of last season and has so far appeared off the bench for the Canaries, scoring in a recent 4-0 victory over Hull City.
Doak has started the last three matches and scored his first senior goal in a victory against Stoke City last month, which led to his call-up to the senior Scotland squad after missing the European Championship due to injury.
“I’m really pleased for Ben and as a coach, I’m pleased with Ben. That’s his first start; I’m sure it won’t be his last,” said Scotland boss Steve Clarke following their 2-1 loss to Croatia on Saturday. “He’s got attributes and qualities. That’s why he’s in the squad.
“That’s why I tried to include him in the squad last summer before his injury. We see what Ben can offer us, but we also have to be cautious. You need to develop young players at the right pace.
“Obviously, his injury probably sped up his debut, and that first start was good. We can build on that. Whether he has the stamina and energy for Tuesday night [against Portugal] after such a demanding game tonight will be assessed over the next couple of days. Let’s enjoy Ben, but let’s not apply too much pressure on him.”
Another player for Doak and Gordon to look to is Conor Bradley, whose return from Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 2023 has ignited a new drive to establish himself in the senior squad at Anfield.
Bradley seized his opportunity last season during Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury, particularly shining in a remarkable performance against Chelsea at Anfield in January, and later contributing to the Reds’ Carabao Cup victory over Chelsea at Wembley in late February. He has since become an integral part of the squad under new head coach Slot.
“When players outgrow the U21s, the situation can become a bit tricky,” U21s boss Barry Lewtas told the ECHO earlier this year. “Not because they’re bad players, but sometimes they can lose motivation and their performance can dip. They overstay their welcome, so to speak. Often, the players themselves are eager to go out on loan to showcase their abilities at a higher level.
“Sometimes it can leave us short at the U21 level, but that’s part of the process, allowing other players to step up. We appreciate the lads going out on loan; I enjoy watching them or keeping track of their progress on TV.
“Loans are a crucial aspect of our strategy. Exposing players to senior football at the right moment is essential, and we’re already beginning to see the benefits of that.”
A notable example is Harvey Elliott, who became a mainstay in the first team after a successful loan at Blackburn Rovers, where he finished second to Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise for the young Championship player of the season in the 2020/21 campaign.
The former Fulham teenager, who spent his first season at Anfield on the periphery of a Premier League-winning squad, gained the confidence and experience necessary to become an important player for Klopp after his time at Ewood Park.
The loan spells of Elliott and Bradley were almost exemplary in preparing them for senior football at Anfield. For Doak, Gordon, and Bajcetic, they can look to Quansah as a model to follow in their own journeys.
