Liverpool's Owen Beck Faces Portsmouth Fallout, Eyes Wrexham or Derby Move After Injury-Marred Loan

Owen Beck’s Bumpy Ride with Portsmouth: Controversy, Injury, and an Uncertain Future

When you think about the ups and downs of being a promising young footballer, Owen Beck’s loan spell at Portsmouth is a textbook example. Brought in from Liverpool for the 2024/25 Championship season, Beck was meant to add youth and energy to Portsmouth’s backline. What actually happened turned out to be more dramatic—and messy—than anyone expected.

Things went sideways in March during a match against Blackburn. Beck, a Wales U21 international and Liverpool academy product, found himself at the center of a storm. Subbed off early, not for tactical reasons, but because he’d aggravated an already troublesome hamstring, Beck left the pitch visibly frustrated. As he made his way to the touchline, cameras caught him making a hand gesture toward Portsmouth’s fans—a move that many read as mocking, suggesting Pompey were doomed for relegation. The Fratton Park crowd, proud and passionate, didn’t appreciate the apparent slight. Choruses of boos drowned out any sympathy for his injury, and he felt the full weight of the supporters’ ire.

It wasn’t just the gesture that stirred up drama. Beck, only just back from a seven-week spell on the sidelines with the same hamstring issue, watched as some fans accused him of wasting time while the physios attended to him. The reality was harder—medical scans later showed the injury was serious enough to keep him out for the rest of the season. No happy ending, no big comeback, just frustration all around.

Where Next: Wrexham, Derby, or a Liverpool U-Turn?

With his time at Portsmouth remembered for all the wrong reasons, Beck’s next step is the subject of growing speculation. Liverpool, intent on nurturing their young talent, are weighing what kind of move suits his development and recovery best. Instead of throwing him back into the Premier League deep end, the club leans toward another loan in the Championship.

The freshest rumor? Wrexham—the ambitious, rapidly rising club and Beck’s hometown team. There’s a sentimental edge here; not only does Beck hail from the area, but he’s related to Liverpool icon Ian Rush, who famously finished his own playing days at Wrexham. Supporters there would no doubt relish watching a local lad with Premier League pedigree bolster their lineup for their new campaign in the Championship.

Then there’s Derby County. The Rams avoided relegation by a whisker last season and are desperate to fortify their defense. Their interest in Beck has already led to advanced discussions over a potential loan, possibly viewing him as the energetic left-back to help move them clear of the drop zone.

Beck’s time in the Championship hasn’t been easy. He managed just 13 appearances for Portsmouth, never fully shaking off injury worries, but he did manage to adapt to the league’s physical, fast-paced style. Liverpool’s coaches are keeping a close eye on his rehab, knowing he needs regular first-team minutes to define his next chapter. Whether that’s at Wrexham, Derby, or even another return to the Liverpool setup, everyone around Beck hopes he can finally show what he’s capable of, without the distractions of past controversies or recurring injuries.