The 20-year-old centre-half who joined the Reds on deadline day last summer from Sporting Lisbon, has moved to the Liga outfit in search of first-team football

Liverpool defender Tiago Ilori has moved to La Liga outfit Granada on loan until the end of the season.

The Portuguese centre-back joined the Reds for £7 million (€8.4m) from Sporting Lisbon last summer but has not featured for Brendan Rodgers’ side this term.

The 20-year-old has played for Liverpool’s under-21 side and been named on the first-team bench on three occasions but has yet to be trusted in the Premier League, despite a raft of defensive injuries suffered by the likes of Daniel Agger and Kolo Toure.

Ilori, who was born in London, has featured for every Portugal youth team up to the Under-21s but is still waiting on his maiden appearance for Paulo Bento’s senior side.

Granada sit 10th in Spain’s top flight and drew 0-0 with Osasuna on Saturday.

Despite not yet breaking into the Liverpool first team, Rodgers said earlier this month that Ilori has a bright future at Anfield.

“I wanted to try to protect the present and the future of the club [by signing Ilori],” he said. “He is one for the future, but he can be a really big talent.”

Aston Villa’s shot-stopper says even the striker was surprised to see the spot-kick awarded, as the Liverpool man admitted he was not sure if he was touched

Brad Guzan is certain Luis Suarez dived to win a penalty for Liverpool, revealing the striker admitted he was unsure if the Aston Villa goalkeeper made contact.

The struggling Villans had charged into a two-goal lead over the high-flying Reds, only for Daniel Sturridge and the Uruguayan to level matters – the latter from 12 yards after he appeared to be felled by Guzan.

Guzan is convinced he pulled his arms away in time, only for Suarez to tumble, and claims the striker hinted that he dived to win the spot-kick as Liverpool salvaged a point.

“I was pretty confident in myself that I hadn’t touched him so I said to him ‘did I touch you?’ He said ‘I don’t know.’ That’s the honest truth of it,” he told reporters.

“Sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don’t. Unfortunately, for us it didn’t. I thought at the time that I’d pulled my hands back and, having seen it again on TV, I don’t think I made contact with him.

“Whether the referee saw that I’m not sure, I don’t know where his position was, but from my point of view it was a soft penalty.

“I think Suarez was probably a bit surprised as well to see it given. But these decisions happen and you have to get on with it and go again.”

The Brazilian midfielder came on as a second half substitute in the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday evening but suffered a knee injury just 20 minutes later

Liverpool are facing an anxious wait to learn the full extent of an injury to Lucas Leiva.

The Brazil midfielder was withdrawn just 20 minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday as Brendan Rodgers’ side came back from two goals down.

Steven Gerrard’s penalty eight minutes into the second half after Daniel Sturridge had reduced the deficit ultimately ensured that they left with a point, but afterwards Rodgers admitted concern for Lucas.

“He clashed knees with the opponent and felt a little click in his knee,” the Liverpool boss said. “Hopefully it’s not too serious but we won’t know for the next 24-48 hours.”

The news is the latest injury blow for Lucas, who reportedly left Anfield on crutches after the game.

The 27-year-old has had knee problems in the past and missed the second half of the 2011-12 season after damaging his cruciate ligament in a Capital One Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.

He also missed three months last season, his first under Rodgers, after suffering a thigh problem.