Eight Liverpool transfers scrutinised as three players in balance and more sent back

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A total of eight Liverpool players spent the second half of the season on loan and they endured mixed experiencesLiverpool had sufficient issues integrating a whole raft of summer signings into the side during a difficult campaign. But away from the glare of the first team, a number of players on the books were attempting to stake their own claims.As usual, the Reds permitted loan moves for a host of Academy and fringe players, the majority seeking the senior experience they hope will bolster attempts to make a concerted breakthrough into Liverpool first team.There were a number of players recalled in January, with James McConnell (Ajax) and James Balagizi (Forest Green Rovers) brought back due to injury and Harvey Davies returning from Crawley Town due to increased competition at the League Two side.Owen Beck's time at Derby County was cut short in November after a serious hamstring injury, while Isaac Mabaya's season at League One outfit Wigan Athletic was ended by a serious Achilles injury suffered on his third appearance back in August.Josh Davidson, meanwhile, went to National League North side Buxton for the closing months and has since confirmed his departure this summer on a free transfer.And there have been some notable highs and significant lows among those who spent the second half of this season away from Anfield.Harvey Elliott (Aston Villa)Elliott's season has been nothing short of an unmitigated failure, and not through any doing of the 23-year-old.

It became quickly apparent Villa were not keen on handing the attacking midfielder the appearances that would oblige them to buy him for £35million, leading to the strange situation of him making one substitute outing in the Premier League since September and a couple in the Europa League despite being fit.With Arne Slot having been sacked by Liverpool, quite what happens with Elliott next is very much uncertain.Kostas Tsimikas (Roma)Tsimikas didn't fare much better during his temporary stop at Roma, making just six starts in Serie A and five in the Europa League, all of which were as left wing-back.He was barely used during the closing weeks of the campaign, and with a year left on his Liverpool contract could now be the main competition to Milos Kerkez at left-back with Andy Robertson having departed.Lewis Koumas (Hull City)The forward spent the first half of the season at Birmingham City where he notched just one goal despite featuring in all bar three games. The 20-year-old switched to Hull City in late January but began to see his minutes limited towards the end of the season and was unused on the bench for the play-off final win over Middlesbrough.Koumas, though, has continued to feature for Wales and scored his first senior international goal in the 1-1 friendly draw with Ghana on Tuesday evening.Luca Stephenson (Dundee United)Stephenson enjoyed a second hugely successful season on loan at the Scottish Premiership side until his campaign was ended by a hamstring injury in April.The 22-year-old was a virtual ever-present at right wing-back and recently revealed he was open to a permanent switch to Tannadice.Vitezslav Jaros (Ajax)Jaros was snapped up by former Liverpool assistant boss John Heitinga in the summer, and continued as first-choice between the sticks for the Dutch side after Heitinga was dismissed in November.However, the 24-year-old has been back at the AXA Training Centre having suffered a season-ending knee injury during training in February that required surgery.Luke Chambers (Charlton Athletic)The 21-year-old Chambers had been out of action for nine months due to a back injury before his return to the under-21s in December, and featured in two Premier League 2 games before moving to Charlton.Playing at left wing-back, he started 16 of the 19 games for which he was available as the Addicks managed to avoid relegation from the Championship.Calum Scanlon (Cardiff City)Scanlon was another whose development was hampered by injury, with a hamstring problem keeping the 21-year-old the left-back for the best part of 12 months.He moved to League One side Cardiff in the New Year but managed only eight appearances, two of which were as a starter, as the Welsh side earned promotion back to the Championship.Fabian Mrozek (FC Cincinatti)Goalkeeper Mrozek moved to the United States in March with a view to a permanent transfer.

He has been on the bench three times for the senior team in MLS but has instead spent much of his playing time in the MLS Next Pro league, where he has made six appearances for Cincinatti's reserves in what is regarded as the country's third tier.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook page