All thoughts on Man Utd after Liverpool youngsters come up short in Europa League

There was a nod to the future as Liverpool suffered a successive European away defeat; three days into the future, to be precise.

The imminent meeting with Manchester United was draped all over Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up as he fielded the youngest Liverpool XI in their rich Uefa history, the average age of 22 years and 156 days putting one in mind of an enriched youth game.

While United’s senior players suffered the anxiety and ignominy of European elimination ahead of Sunday’s Anfield trip, for Liverpool’s star men the greatest stress of the evening was deciding whether to put their feet up and put the kettle on as they watched their understudies assume responsibilities.

Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson Becker were among those who stayed on Merseyside, their overseas work done until March.

“Experience for some, rhythm for others,” was Klopp’s summation of an evening where the stakes were higher for Belgian hosts Union SG as they deservedly secured a 2-1 win.

Klopp earned the right to call-up so many names in need of pre-match research, Liverpool having secured top spot with a game to spare. While the Uniteds of Manchester and Newcastle have found the twin demands of Europe and the Premier League too much for their weary limbs, the Europa League has morphed from being an unwanted consolation prize to Liverpool’s ally.

One might wonder if Erik ten Hag and Eddie Howe look back and think it would have been better had Liverpool actually caught them in the race for fourth at the end of last season. They would probably still have some foreign excursions to look forward to while the minutes added up for Klopp’s most important players. Instead, in this period of transition - and it still is that despite Liverpool being top of the Premier League - Klopp is seizing every advantage at his disposal to make amends for the financial loss of dropping into the second tier competition. Van Dijk, for example, has not been seen in the Europa League since the first group game.

A few seniors offered balance in the form of Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate, Harvey Elliott, Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo. Most surprising was a late cameo for Darwin Nunez, who might have expected to be among those rested.

But as they trod carefully around a cabbage patch pitch, there was an inescapable sense of the minds of the most experienced present being on Sunday too, especially when the more encouraging passing movements ended with the loss of a 50-50 tackle.

The youngsters played with enthusiasm with the ball and with a certain naivety without it, vulnerable to counter-attacking and making enough mistakes to present numerous opportunities, Mohammed Amoura and Cameron Puertas the beneficiaries for the Belgians.

Back-up keeper Caoimhin Kelleher was unlucky not to prevent Amoura dribbling past him for the opening goal. He was more culpable when beaten at his near post by Puertas for what proved the winner just before half-time.

That restored the home advantage after Jarell Quansah blasted an equaliser when a corner kick somehow found him in space in the penalty area. The young centre-half has quite the knack in front of goal, this his first for the club having seen an equaliser contentiously disallowed at the end of the last overseas trip in Toulouse.

Kaide Gordon, who rose to prominence with a senior goal two years ago before injuries halted rapid progress, will be relieved and proud to be back with the senior side. He is still just 19.

There are better days to come for youngsters Ben Doak and Conor Bradley, too, Klopp having considered them first-team ready for a while.

“Everybody in the first-half was struggling,” said Klopp.

“I would never judge a player after a game like this and say, ‘ok, obviously not good enough.’

“I know how good they are because I see them everyday in training. It is an important experience. I don’t think any career ever started without these sorts of games where you have to struggle, where you have to fight through and you have to survive.

“That is part of development.”

Kelleher’s saves kept the scoreline respectful in the second half.

Despite their win, Union could not pip Toulouse to the runners-up spot. Instead, they heartily celebrated dropping into the Conference League.

Slightly over the top? Don’t knock it. The governing body, Uefa, are making it increasingly tougher to get completely knocked out of Europe. On that score, Liverpool’s next opponents have succeeded where so many others have failed.

Union Saint-Gilloise vs Liverpool: As it happened...

08:27 PM GMT

Bad performance on night that did not matter

It was a poor performance from Liverpool tonight but the game did not matter one bit. Liverpool had already secured top spot with a game to go and therefore Jurgen Klopp made a lot of changes for the trip to Belgium tonight. Liverpool were sloppy in possession and defensively and were punished by Union, who deserved the win although their first goal looks like it should not have stood.

A disappointing performance and result for Klopp’s men, but it was a meaningless match and all the attention is on Sunday’s game at home against Manchester United, not on tonight’s dead rubber.

08:20 PM GMT

Quotes from Jurgen Klopp

On Conor Bradley:

08:07 PM GMT

Should Union's first goal have stood?

There was controversy surrounding Union’s first goal and whether it was offside. We saw no lines or replays of the incident and had no explanation from UEFA as to why the goal stood. There have been some images circulating from side-on which seem to suggest Amoura was clearly offside yet the goal was given. It looked offside in real time and the pictures suggest that Amoura was way offside. Still no word from UEFA on the matter...

08:05 PM GMT

Stats

Liverpool had 69% possession tonight but did not do much with it; they had just four shots. Whereas with just 31% possession Union had 15 shots and probably should have scored more than the two they did with the chances they created, especially Nilsson’s header in the second half from around eight yards out that he should have buried.

07:55 PM GMT

Finish to Group E

This is how Group E looks at the end of the group stages:

Liverpool through as group winners and straight into the Last 16. After they beat LASK 2-1 tonight, Toulouse finish second and they are into the Round of 32. Union drop into the Conference League and LASK are out completely.

07:42 PM GMT

FT: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

There is pinball inside the area but Union counter. Nothing comes from it but that is full time and Union win 2-1. A dreadful, dreadful performance from Liverpool but fair play to Union, who look set to miss out on the knockout stages of this competition but will drop down into the Conference League.

Liverpool made plenty of changes as this game did not matter but Jurgen Klopp will be very disappointed with that performance as well as the result. Even though this game did not matter, Klopp would have expected so much more from the likes of Endo, Elliott and Jones tonight, who were all very disappointing. It smacked off thinking about the weekend and not tonight’s game which was a dead rubber. Attention turns to Sunday for Liverpool and the small matter of Manchester United at Anfield.

07:39 PM GMT

90+4 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool have a late corner deep into stoppage time..

07:37 PM GMT

90+1 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

What an absolutely ridiculous decision. Scanlon goes into the book for minimal contact on his first foul yet a number of Union players have been committing fouls left, right and centre yet have not picked up bookings.

07:34 PM GMT

90 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

We are into five minutes of added time at the end of this game.

07:33 PM GMT

88 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Eckert is only just on the pitch but he shoots from just outside the box. Kelleher saves and it ends up going out for an Union corner, which is punched away by Kelleher.

07:32 PM GMT

87 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Amani is replaced by Eckert for the home side.

07:30 PM GMT

85 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

How many times have Liverpool given the ball away tonight? Jones the culprit again on that occasion as he needlessly gives it away.

07:28 PM GMT

84 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

He is now replaced by Rasmussen.

07:27 PM GMT

83 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Amoura is down again for Union and it looks this time like he might have to go off.

07:26 PM GMT

81 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Chance wasted by Elliott. Nunez is free in the centre of the box but Elliott’s cross from the right is too heavy and goes over Nunez’s head.

07:24 PM GMT

80 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

It is truly staggering how Amani has not been booked tonight. So many fouls from him yet no yellow card. Gravenberch then strikes from distance after driving forward which is saved by Moris.

07:22 PM GMT

78 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Union make a change as Nilsson makes way for Rodriguez.

07:22 PM GMT

77 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool have a free-kick not far outside the Union box on the right-hand side. But it is a terrible delivery from Jones and it is headed away. What a waste!

07:20 PM GMT

75 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Jurgen Klopp is making his final change as McConnell replaces Gordon. Amoura was down momentarily for the home side receiving some treatment.

07:17 PM GMT

72 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Amoura is in on goal again but his shot is saved by Kelleher. Once again though a suspicion of handball that once again was not seen or given.

07:15 PM GMT

70 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Union should be 3-1 ahead. Amoura, who has probably been the best player on the pitch tonight, whips in a glorious cross from the left and Nilsson has a free header about eight yards out. But his header goes wide.

07:13 PM GMT

69 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Bit surprised to see Nunez make an appearance. Thought he might be at home with Salah and Van Dijk saving himself for United.

07:11 PM GMT

65 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

In the midst of that VAR review Liverpool made another double change as Scanlon replaced Chambers and Nunez is on for Doak.

Union on the attack again through Amoura and his cross is parried away by Kelleher. I do not know how many times I have said it tonight but Liverpool have been so poor in possession, losing it on countless occasions, and in defence, as they have given up numerous chances.

07:08 PM GMT

No goal

Finally we get to see some replays and unsurprisingly the goal is disallowed for handball in the build-up.

07:07 PM GMT

GOAL! Puertas scores his second of the night

Union are 3-1 up. The ball is played across to Puertas on the edge of the box. He opens his body up and slots nicely home into the bottom corner. There were suspicions of handball in the build-up but no surprise with UEFA we have seen no close-ups of the incident. VAR are reviewing the incident...

07:03 PM GMT

59 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Liverpool have had just one attempt tonight in the first hour of the game, compared to Union’s 9. That sums up how poor Liverpool have been tonight.

07:01 PM GMT

57 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Union have a corner after good defending from Quansah on the flank. The corner is not a good one and is way too heavy. It goes out for a goal-kick.

06:59 PM GMT

55 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Puertas tries to curl one into the far corner from outside the box but it is well wide of Kelleher’s far post.

06:58 PM GMT

53 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Bradley defends well inside his own box as he blocks from Puertas. Sadiki is then finally into the book for rugby tackling Doak and that should be him off. He should have been booked a few minutes ago and therefore should no longer be on the pitch.

06:53 PM GMT

48 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

How is that not a yellow card? That was an absolute stonewall yellow, the definition of one. Sadiki cynically takes down Gordon as he is driving forward inside the Union half but only a free-kick is given.

06:49 PM GMT

Second half

Liverpool are making a double change at the break as Gomez and Gravenberch replace Endo and Konate. We are back under way in Brussels.

06:40 PM GMT

The HT thoughts of Chris Bascombe

“Kelleher was a bit unlucky with Union’s first goal. Not so much their second, the old ‘beaten at the near post’ criticism applying. On the plus side, Quansah’s finish was worthy of a striker, not a centre-back. Can’t shift the feeling that this has a pre-season vibe for some of Liverpool’s more experienced players, though. A couple of 50-50 tackles have been shirked. Is there a more important game on the immediate horizon?”

06:34 PM GMT

HT: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

That is the end of the first half and Union lead at the break. Liverpool have been terrible in that first half and Jurgen Klopp will not be impressed with his players.

06:32 PM GMT

45 minutes: Union SG 2 Liverpool 1

Minimum of two added minutes at the end of the first half. Liverpool have a free-kick on the right but Elliott’s delivery is too heavy and Union clear their lines.

06:30 PM GMT

GOAL! Union retake the lead

Union take the lead again. They find space on the left and Puertas takes on one touch outside the box and fires from just inside. He beats Kelleher at the near post and Union are ahead for the second time tonight.

06:28 PM GMT

42 minutes: Union SG 1 Liverpool 1

So sloppy again from Liverpool. Jones is caught in possession inside his own half, taking too long on the ball, and like Endo earlier he is lucky to get away it. Liverpool have been poor in this first half.

06:26 PM GMT

GOAL! Quansah equalises

Liverpool are level. From their first corner of the night, Quansah controls the delivery from Jones and then smashes home beautifully for his first senior goal. 1-1.

06:25 PM GMT

38 minutes: Union SG 1 Liverpool 0

Union have a corner which Kelleher punches away. Liverpool have been so sloppy defensively tonight. This has not been a good first-half performance from the visitors and Jurgen Klopp will not be impressed.

06:21 PM GMT

Goal given

VAR has awarded the goal. How was he not offside? No lines and seemingly no replays or explanation from UEFA. Union take the lead.

06:19 PM GMT

GOAL!

Have Union taken the lead? Nilsson plays the ball forward to Amoura, who looks offside. He drives into the box and just about gets past Kelleher, despite the Irishman getting a hand on it. He strokes it into the net but VAR will check this as he did look offside...

06:18 PM GMT

32 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Jurgen Klopp will not be happy that his side is yet to register a shot in this match and the game has passed the 30-minute mark. Not the best performance so far from Liverpool; they have had the majority of possession but not done much with it.

06:16 PM GMT

30 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

There is a short stoppage in play as Amani is down receiving treatment for the hosts.

06:14 PM GMT

27 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Endo is caught in possession and Puertas attempts to send a ball forward to Amoura, but he is offside. That was really poor from Endo and he was a tad lucky to get away with losing possession there.

06:10 PM GMT

23 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Bradley is the first man into the book tonight. He was a bit late but it looks like a harsh yellow as there was very little contact.

06:08 PM GMT

22 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Good save from Kelleher. The ball is played into the right channel and Nilsson beats Quansah to it. He dribbles towards goal and into the box but his shot is saved well by Kelleher.

06:05 PM GMT

19 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Fair to say it is not the best pitch in the world at Lotto Park. Think the groundsman grows his vegetables on it in between fixtures. Liverpool are quite tidy in possession so far considering the surface.

06:04 PM GMT

17 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Gakpo gets on the end of a lovely diagonal ball from Bradley inside the box but he cannot quite get it under his spell and Moris can gather.

05:59 PM GMT

12 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool concede a free-kick inside their half after Doak shoves over Amani. That was a little naive from Doak as Amani saw him coming from a mile off. The free-kick is sent in and Machida’s header is well wide. The offside flag goes up as well so even if it had gone in it would not have counted.

05:57 PM GMT

10 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Sadiki strikes from range and his shot goes wide of the post. Liverpool have been sloppy defensively so far.

05:56 PM GMT

9 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Elliott sends in the free-kick but it is headed away. Union break down the field. They make their way into the Liverpool penalty area and appeal for a penalty but that was a dive from Amani. No contact from Doak on Amani.

05:53 PM GMT

7 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Unsurprisingly Liverpool are having the majority of possession so far in this game but they are yet to register a shot. But they have a free-kick on the right with an opportunity to whip it into the box.

05:51 PM GMT

4 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

After Liverpool make their first foray into the Union SG box, the home side break down the other end and make their way into the Liverpool penalty area for the first time. It ends up safely in the hands of Kelleher.

05:49 PM GMT

3 minutes: Union SG 0 Liverpool 0

Today’s is the youngest Liverpool line-up to play in Europe. Of all the emerging talent, Ben Doak is the one who has caught most attention. He’s made a few appearances already in this competition. Liverpool’s staff think it is only a matter of time until he delivers a statement performance. Scotland coach Steve Clarke will be hoping so, too.

05:46 PM GMT

Kick-off

We are under way in Brussels.

05:42 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides have emerged from the tunnel and kick-off is just moments away.

05:39 PM GMT

Reminder of the team news

Liverpool: Kelleher, Chambers, Konate, Quansah, Bradley, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Gordon, Doak, Gakpo.

Subs: Pitaluga, Mrozek, Gomez, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, McConnell, Scanlon, Diaz, Nunez, Koumas, Hill.

Union St-Gilloise: Moris, Machida, Burgess, Mac Allister, Lapoussin, Sadiki, Amani, Castro-Montes, Puertas, Amoura, Nilsson.

Subs: Imbrechts, Wenssens, Sykes, Leysen, Rasmussen, Huygevelde, Teklab, Terho, Rodriguez, Ayensa

05:36 PM GMT

Home side preparing

Union SG have a very slim hope of qualifying for the knockout stages tonight. They have to beat Liverpool, hope Toulouse lose to LASK and create a dramatic overhaul of the goal difference.

05:35 PM GMT

Liverpool warming up

05:34 PM GMT

Chance to impress

Plenty of exciting Liverpool youngsters in the starting line-up tonight in Belgium. Luke Chambers and Conor Bradley, who is already a Northern Ireland international, start in the full-back positions. Jarell Quansah, who has started a couple of games in the Premier League this season already, starts again in the Europa League.

In the front three Kaide Gordon, who has missed most of the last 18 months with injury, and Ben Doak, a Scotland Under-21 international, start.

Here is Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp speaking to TNT Sports:

05:26 PM GMT

Liverpool arrive

05:21 PM GMT

Team news

Liverpool: Kelleher, Chambers, Konate, Quansah, Bradley, Jones, Endo, Elliott, Gordon, Doak, Gakpo.

Subs: Pitaluga, Mrozek, Gomez, Tsimikas, Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, McConnell, Scanlon, Diaz, Nunez, Koumas, Hill.

Union St-Gilloise: Moris, Machida, Burgess, Mac Allister, Lapoussin, Sadiki, Amani, Castro-Montes, Puertas, Amoura, Nilsson.

05:03 PM GMT

Captain Jones

Scouser Curtis Jones will be full of pride tonight as he captains Liverpool in Belgium.

04:57 PM GMT

Can Union SG qualify?

Whilst Liverpool have already sealed top spot in Group E, Union SG can join them in the knockout stages. Union would have to beat Liverpool and hope Toulouse lose away at LASK. Both games in the group kick off at the same time (17.45 GMT).

04:52 PM GMT

Start for Gordon

Kaide Gordon has had an horrendous time with injury of late, having missed most of the last 18 months out injured. He starts tonight for his first appearance since January 2022.

04:49 PM GMT

Inside the away dressing room in Brussels

04:44 PM GMT

Union SG team news

04:43 PM GMT

Rest and rotation

With top spot in the group already sealed with a game to go, Jurgen Klopp has rotated his team a lot. The quartet of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson were all left behind and did not travel with the squad, whilst the likes of Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai are all on the bench.

Liverpool host Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday so Klopp has taken the opportunity to rest a lot of players ahead of that huge fixture.

04:36 PM GMT

Fancy a bet?

Having a bet on today’s match? First take a look at these free bets and betting offers.

04:33 PM GMT

Liverpool team news

04:23 PM GMT

Match preview

By Chris Bascombe

Harvey Elliott does not want to be branded as Liverpool’s new ‘supersub’ as he set his sights on being a permanent starter for Jurgen Klopp.

The England Under 21 international is building a reputation for his impact from the bench. A winning goal against Crystal Palace last weekend followed influential cameos against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton.

But like the most famous ‘supersub’ in Liverpool history, David Fairclough, Elliott is not keen for the tag to stick during his career.

“For me, I don’t really want to be known as a super-sub. It’s a great headline as well, it’s a nice one, but at the same time I want to be in the team,” said Elliott.

“It’s time for myself to establish myself in that position again and hopefully get a good run of games. But at the same time, I need to be patient as well and maybe be the super-sub as well. I need to keep enjoying my football, play with a smile and if it’s as a super-sub, then fine, I’ll happily come on and do whatever I can for the team. I am just happy to be putting the shirt on but this season I really want to kick on my game.”

Elliott says the key to his contributions from the bench is the ability to read the game, identify where the spaces are and inject pace.

“It’s just about taking that time to analyse the opposition, analyse the players you’re going to be playing against and maybe analyse our players as well, seeing what they’re doing, the things that aren’t coming off,” he explained.

“Seeing where I can exploit the spaces, positions I can pick up. Starting compared with being on the bench - it kind of gives you that different view.”

Elliott will start against Belgium’s Union SG in Thursday’s Europa League, a fixture in which Klopp is sure to field a young side given Liverpool’s qualification as group winners is guaranteed.

There is also a chance teenager Kaide Gordon will start, two years after becoming the club’s youngest ever FA Cup goalscorer. The 19-year-old has suffered wretched injury luck ever since.

Klopp, however, says Alexis Mac Allister is set to miss Sunday’s visit of Manchester United. Mac Allister suffered a wound to his knee in the recent win at Sheffield United.

“I am obviously not a doctor but they explained it to me pretty much every day and it is obviously a bit more tricky than we thought,” said Klopp.

“The other boy stepped on his knee and the stud went through pretty much the muscle onto the bone. And now we have to wait until the bone is healed and until Macca can deal with the pain, because it is pretty painful.

“Macca is actually a super-tough guy so we have probably to make sure just from an infection point of view nothing happens. That’s really important.

“I never had this injury for one of my players before but now we have it. I hope it will not take that long, I would like to say it’s day by day – but that would look like he could maybe play the next game but he will not be ready for that as well.

“So, I hope the next three or four days he makes big steps and then we will see.”

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