After Brendan Rodgers sent Luis Alberto on loan to Málaga, he sent Alberto’s fellow countryman Iago Aspas to Spain as well, a few weeks later. Aspas was sent to Sevilla on 21st July 2014, roughly an eight hour drive from where Aspas grew up.
The 27-year-old striker made his competitive debut for Sevilla in a 2-0 defeat to Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. Aspas came on in the 66th minute with his squad already trailing by two goals. Aspas had a lousy first touch, and he was mostly just a spectator for the rest of the match.
His first goal for Sevilla came on 2nd October 2014 in a 2-2 away draw to Rijeka (Croatia) in the Europa League. Aspas capitalized on a defensive error, nailing a left-footed shot low to open the scoring.
Although Aspas has yet to start a league game for Sevilla, he is still used in the Spanish Cup and Europa League. He scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 away victory over Sabadell in the Spanish Cup on 29th October 2014.
The first goal was a brilliant weak-footed volley from just inside the box, the second was a breakaway which Aspas managed to finish despite missing a chip shot, and the third was a penalty which Aspas won himself.
Moreover, Aspas’s next goals came in a 5-1 home victory over Sabadell in the Spanish Cup on 3rd December 2014, similar to what Luis Suárez did to Norwich City in his time with Liverpool.
Aspas managed to get his hat trick in just four minutes this time. The first was an open goal near the penalty spot, the second was a spectacular left-footed chip from about twenty yards out, and the third was a breakaway in which Aspas took it around the keeper and scored.
His most recent goal came on 14th January 2015 in a 4-0 home victory over Granada in the Spanish Cup. His goal was a header similar to Daniel Sturridge’s equalizing goal in the 3-3 away draw to Everton last season, except Aspas was a little further out.
Over his 15 appearances for Sevilla in all competitions since his arrival in late July, Aspas has racked up 573 minutes of playing time (roughly six full matches).
While many Liverpool supporters are hoping Sevilla make Aspas’s stay in Spain permanent, his loan at Sevilla has certainly not been a failure, strengthening that possibility.
