From Southport to Accrington Stanley before shock transfer and fulfilling Liverpool dream

At the beginning of October 2017, Ross Sykes was bedding in for his first loan period away from Accrington Stanley with Southport, in the National League North.

Six years later, Sykes was a second-half substitute in one of Royal Union Saint-Gilloise’s biggest-ever matches against Liverpool, marking Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, at Anfield.

The path from League One and the home comforts of the Wham Stadium to the bright lights of Anfield on a Thursday night in the Europa League is not one that is well-trodden.

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And for those checking the teamsheet last Thursday, prior to Jurgen Klopp’s side extending their 100 per cent record in Group E, one name would’ve only stood out to a handful of onlookers.

That being the former Accrington Stanley defender and Southport loanee, Sykes.

The historic visit to L4 for the Belgians was something of a sliding-doors moment for the 24-year-old as two days later marked the anniversary of his Southport loan debut against Spennymoor Town.

“When you put it like that, time flies,” he said, dialling in from Antwerp, close to Union Saint-Gilloise’s training centre.

“I didn’t even realise it was six years ago, it doesn’t even feel that long (ago)."

“It’s incredible to play in games like this (against Liverpool) and hopefully, there’s many more to come,” the defender added.

Liverpool managed to take maximum points from their encounter with the Brussels side despite their below-par performance. Ryan Gravenberch and Jota both found the target in the triumph.

But it wasn't an easy encounter for Klopp's side with Alisson forced into a number of important