Liverpool Loanee Aspas' Hat-trick For Sevilla Sends Message To Brendan Rodgers

Liverpool loanee Iago Aspas sent a message to manager Brendan Rodgers after leading Sevilla to a 6-1 Copa del Rey victory against Sabadell with the first hat-trick of his career.

The Spaniard move to Anfield in summer 2014 for around £7m after impressing Rodgers during his spell at Celta de Vigo, scoring 12 La Liga goals.

But with Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge forging an impressive attacking partner last campaign, the Liverpool boss handed him just five starting appearances during the whole season restricting his ability to prove his worth in the Premier League.

Following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona, Aspas expected to have a new chance at Anfield.

However, Rodgers opted to part ways with him by loaning to Sevilla while signing both Mario Balotelli, from AC Milan for around £16m, and Rickie Lambert, after paying £4m to Southampton for his services.

While all Balotelli, Lambert and Fabio Borini are yet to score a Premier League goal, Aspas looks ready to prove Rodgers made a mistake with him in la Liga.

Even though in-form Sevilla striker Carlo Bacca looks unmovable up-front, Aspas is taking his chances in the La Liga side to prove his worth.

Although he is yet to start a La Liga game this season, Aspas has scored goals in his only two starts of the campaign – in the Europe League and the Copa del Rey when manager Unai Emery handed opportunities to the fringe players.

The Spanish striker scored a goal earlier in the season in the Europe League against Rikeja while on Wednesday hit a sensational hat-trick to lead Sevilla to victory over Sabadell.

In his post-match interview, Aspas reveals his next target is to secure a place in the line-up.

"Ever (Banega) asked to take the penalty, but I told him that this could be the first hat-trick of my career and, in the end, it went in. As it's my first, I'm taking the ball home with me. It's true that I haven't shown all of the football I have inside of me. I need to keep fighting and make things difficult for the manager."