It was probably always going to be the summer transfer window in which Jurgen Klopp was going to really revolutionise this Liverpool side but our resident Reds supporters can’t help feel a little disappointed so far.
Up until the club’s apparent interest in Shakhtar Donetsk’s Alex Teixeira of late, the Anfield giants had only brought in Steven Caulker from QPR on loan while concluding a deal for the up-and-coming Marko Grujic who was swiftly loaned back to Red Star Belgrade.
With Liverpool having tread water in a fair few of Jurgen Klopp’s game in charge now, the Reds are a lot further away than where they would like to be competing right now and the club’s fans would like to see greater consistency in results so that their German manager can take them to that next level in the summer transfer window.
But with big name new arrivals surely saved for another day, the focus could be on outgoings in the remainder of the January window with Jerome Sinclair all set to give up on his Anfield dream at the time of writing.
Having read this past week that the 19-year-old forward who is still the Reds’ youngest ever debutant will be leaving Anfield, it is Watford who have been billed as the favourites for his signature.
It is a shame for Sinclair who scored in the Reds’ FA Cup third round first leg against Exeter City earlier this month but with Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Ings and Divock Origi ahead of him in the pecking order with everybody fit, you can see why he’d believe first team chances are better served elsewhere.
With his exit in mind, we’ve devised a list of five Reds pros who could also be following him out of Anfield in the remaining days of January, whether it be permanently or through a loan move.
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Click on the image below to reveal the five players to follow Jerome Sinclair out of Liverpool this January.
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Jose Enrique
Liverpool fans caught a glimpse of many Liverpool players they’d never normally see in the two games against Exeter City and one man who figured against the Grecians was forgotten Spaniard Jose Enrique.
Pressed into action as an emergency centre back down at St James’ Park after the Reds suffered an injury crisis, we read in the Liverpool Offside fanzine back on December 31st that the former Newcastle United man is free to find a new club this winter.
With Alberto Moreno having improved in spells this term and Joe Gomez to return for next season, Enrique defines that deadwood category at Anfield right now.
It just remains to be seen whether he can find a new buyer who can put up with his unfortunate injury troubles in the remaining days of the window.
Connor Randall
One man who has been in and around the Liverpool first team far more than he might have expected this term is young Liverpudlian full back Connor Randall.
Having enjoyed a few starts in the cup competitions now, Randall hasn’t impressed every Reds supporter but being a local lad, the Kop may be a little more forgiving with him considering he’s one of their own like Jordan Rossiter for example.
Still very young, Randall looks as if he’s in need of a loan switch to ideally a Championship level club to further aid his long-term development.
With Jon Flanagan finally back in the team after figuring for 40 minutes against Exeter and Nathaniel Clyne the standout first choice at right back anyway, it seems that now is the time for Randall to be temporarily released to the Football League to improve his all-round game.
Tiago Ilori
Tiago Ilori now knows a hell of a lot more about Exeter City than he does any other English opponent having been something of a mystery figure on these shores since signing for the Reds back in 2013.
Having not made a single appearance on loan at Premier League strugglers Aston Villa in the first part of the campaign, Ilori started against Exeter City in the FA Cup on both occasions and wasn’t overly convincing in the first game.
Strange circumstances to enjoy your first appearance in English football on the bobbly surface of St James’ Park but at the same time, you’d expect a bit more from a player who arrived as a highly-rated youngster.
With Steven Caulker now on board as an extra body at centre back, Ilori could potentially be released on a permanent deal this January if a buyer comes to the surface but failing that, we could possibly see another loan move come to fruition.
Ryan Fulton
*Ok maybe we’re cheating because Ryan Fulton actually completed a loan switch to League Two Portsmouth on Friday but at the time this article was constructed, we mooted that he’d be on the move!*
Fulton’s name has appeared a couple of times in Liverpool’s first team squad for the first time in his professional career this season and at one stage, it looked as if he may even have been given a shock nod as the number one!
Given the error-prone performances of Simon Mignolet and Adam Bogdan of late, some Reds fans by the bar were crying out to give Scottish youngster Fulton a go who couldn’t possibly be as bad as the aforementioned pair!
But with the highly-rated Welsh international Danny Ward having been recalled from a positive loan spell in the Scottish Premier League with Aberdeen, Fulton’s use in Jurgen Klopp’s first team has diminished for the time being.
Kevin Stewart
Somebody who Liverpool supporters might not have even seen this season if it wasn’t for drawing a lower league team in the third round of the FA Cup, Reds fans all know who Kevin Stewart is now.
The former Tottenham academy product started out a left back at White Hart Lane but more recently, the Reds have converted him into a central midfielder and the 22-year-old started in that very position against Exeter City in both games recently.
Not disgracing himself on both occasions, Stewart isn’t so much of a youngster compared to the likes of Ryan Kent, Connor Randall and Sheyi Ojo and is therefore, more in need of first team chances.
We think that again, another loan move beckons for Stewart who has already spent time on loan in League One with Swindon Town earlier in the season and it’s hard to tell whether he really has a Liverpool future long-term barring something extra special.
