Liverpool’s 19 loan deals are ranked in terms of their successes, failures, and anomalies.
Liverpool sent 19 players out on loan in 2022/23, with 20 different clubs involved. But how did they perform? Who succeeded and who struggled?
It was a busy season for Liverpool’s loan pathways team, with a 19 youngsters and fringe players sent out to gain experience elsewhere Some left with hopes of cementing their long-term futures at Anfield by taking the next step into senior football, while others will have looked to put themselves in the shop window.
There were, as expected, mixed fortunes, with eight deals cancelled early and two others brought to a premature end by injury.
But there were many who thrived, with some lifting silverware during their time away from Liverpool.
Here, we’ve ranked every loan from the 2022/23 season, from worst to best.
N/A – Paul Glatzel (Tranmere)
It would be unfair to rank Glatzel’s follow-up season at Tranmere, with another serious injury minutes into his comeback ruling him out for the entire campaign.
18. Owen Beck (Famalicao, Bolton)
There were high hopes when Beck headed to the Portuguese top flight with Famalicao, after a standout academy season.
But it quickly went downhill and weeks later he pivoted to Bolton, where his lack of fitness saw him play nine times before the deal was cancelled.
17. Jakub Ojrzynski (Radomiak Radom)
A strange loan with little hope of taking up the No. 1 role, Ojryznski made three appearances for the Polish club before returning to Liverpool in January.
16. Sepp van den Berg (Schalke)
Arrived as a first-choice starter, picked up a serious ankle injury in October, scored on his return six months later but then suffered relegation.
15. Max Woltman (Doncaster)
A move to League Two came too soon for Woltman, who found himself at odds physically and, after starting three of his 14 games with no goal return, his loan was terminated.
14. Vitezslav Jaros (Stockport)
Jaros joined Stockport with high hopes and began well, keeping seven clean sheets in 13 games including against Leicester in the Carabao Cup.
Then injury struck, Ben Hinchliffe emerged as a hero in his absence and the 21-year-old warmed the bench for the remainder.
Klopp’s long-term plans.
2. Leighton Clarkson (Aberdeen)
There were no such misgivings at Aberdeen, as Clarkson put a disappointing spell of his own at Blackburn behind him and cemented himself as a star player in Scotland.
The 21-year-old suffered through a difficult middle of the season along with his team-mates, and emerged as a regular source of goals and assists as the Dons finished third in the Premiership.
Clarkson’s ability from set-pieces grabbed headlines, but his linkup play was what kept Aberdeen ticking – and has attracted interest in a permanent deal.
1. Conor Bradley (Bolton)
In seasons to come, Bradley’s time at Bolton will be held up as the model for Liverpool’s loan pathways setup – a bona fide success.
The 19-year-old clocked more minutes for club and country throughout the season than any other teenager in world football, which included 53 appearances for his loan side.
He scored seven goals and laid on six assists as he excelled as the right wing-back in Ian Evatt’s 3-4-1-2 system, helping Bolton win the Papa John’s Trophy and make the League One playoffs.
There was a sense, midway through the season, that Bradley had already outgrown Bolton, but he stayed for the rest of the campaign and can now set his sights much higher.
Bradley could perhaps even force his way ahead of Calvin Ramsay and into contention at Liverpool.
