'It was always Cardiff' - Scanlon on second loan from Liverpool

[Getty Images] Calum Scanlon says he insisted Liverpool return him to an "ambitious" Cardiff City squad for a second time on loan this season. Left-back Scanlon, 21, has returned to the Welsh capital for the whole of the 2026-27 campaign, after helping the club secure promotion to the Championship last season. Scanlon began his second spell by going straight into the starting XI in the 1-1 draw with Wrexham. The defender says Liverpool are supportive of his latest move and expect him to get plenty of first team action. "It's my decision what club I go to. In those meetings [at Liverpool], we do discuss it," Scanlon said. "Obviously, everyone knows other clubs. But for me, it was always coming back to Cardiff. That's why I'm here." The England U20 international said Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy had told him at the end of last season that he would remain in touch. "Once I got back from pre-season with Liverpool, he started to ring me and showed me the ambitions for the season and how he thinks I can play in the team," Scanlon added. "That's when I knew I wanted to come back. I always had it in my mind anyway from my time here last season, I enjoyed it. It was always brilliant to come back here and get started again." As well as his Cardiff loan, Scanlon has signed a new "long term" contract with Liverpool. He has played two competitive senior matches for the Premier League giants, having arrived at their academy set-up from Birmingham City in 2021. "Signing that was a big moment for me again as well. It shows that the hard work that I've done has paid off," he said. "Now that's out of the way, I still have things that I want to achieve. "It's just a constant cycle where I've done this now, what's next? There's no stopping, so just keep improving from there."