✍️ A brief summary of the game.
This game was effectively a test for Liverpool's young players, and it's hard to say that they've passed it with flying colours.
Union was definitely the better side, and the one with better motivation as well as a win gave them a chance to progress further in the competition.
Liverpool only managed two shots on target, one in the first half and another after the break. The first one was a goal from Jarell Quansah: after the ball fell to him in the box from a corner, the centre-back swivelled and smashed it into the net.
Unfortunately, Union scored both before and after Quansah's strike, meaning that Liverpool were one goal down before half-time. They did not do enough up front to change the scoreline and only avoided a bigger loss thanks to VAR.
🏁 Full time. A defeat in Belgium for Liverpool.
⌚ 87' Another good save from Kelleher.
BaronVonKikkenberg, Reddit: "Kelleher is the only reason we are still in this game but he’s a fraud apparently."
⌚ 79' Gravenberch with a good shot. Just the second shot on target for the Reds this game.
🔄️ 75' McConnell on for Gordon. The final sub of the game for Liverpool.
⌚ 72' Kelleher with a good save on Amoura.
kramyeltta, Reddit: "The future not looking too bright based on this performance. Youngsters look amateurs…"
⌚ 70' Nilsson should've scored a third for Union but fumbled his header.
❌ 64' Union's third goal is disallowed! Handball. Still 2-1, but Union are still ahead.
Vlatko Georgievski, This Is Anfield: "Lucky with the hand there, but once again extremely poor reaction by our keeper."
🔄️🔄️ 63' Scanlon and Nunez on for Chambers and Doak.
⚽ 62' 3-1 Union. Puertas grabs a brace with a first-time finish.
⌚ 55' Union keep attacking, they need to have a good goal difference to have a chance to compete for the knockout stage. So far, not so good for them: Toulouse are winning against LASK and on route to finishing second in the group.
Michael Hugh, This Is Anfield: "Have to say as well, this pitch is terrible. Really sub-standard and not conducive to the sort of football we would want to play."
⌚ 46' Back underway!
🔄️🔄️ Double change at half-time: Gomez and Gravenberch on for Konate and Endo.
📸 We have some serious VAR questions again...
✍️ A brief summary of the first half.
It quickly became evident which side needed more out of this game. Union put Liverpool under a prolonged spell of consistent pressure, while the Reds barely ventured forward, mostly kicking the ball around at the back.
The game was pretty eventless until Union's first goal after 30 minutes. After Curtis Jones was dispossessed, Mohamed Amoura ran away from both Konate and Quansah who tried to set up an offside trap. The Union forward ran around Kelleher and slotted the ball in.
Liverpool equalised in less than 10 minutes after Jarell Quansah controlled the corner and smashed the ball home. It did not last, though, as Cameron Puertas beat Kelleher at the near post.
First-half ratings: Kelleher 5, Bradley 5, Konate 6,
Quansah 7, Chambers 5, Elliott 6, Endo 5, Jones 5, Doak 5, Gakpo 5, Gordon 5.
⏸️ HT. The experimental Liverpool side is one goal down after the first half.
⚽ 43' 2-1 Union. Puertas beats Kelleher at the near post.
RobTBuckets, Reddit: "Kind of a shame that Kweev is playing himself out of a good move. He's been shocking this season tbf"
⚽ 40' GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAL! Quansah hammers the ball home after a corner!
Vlatko Georgievski, This Is Anfield: "Happy for Quansah. Well taken, Darwin should take notes:)"
dublindave112, Reddit: "He was owed that goal since the one that was chalked off in the Toulouse game. Belter."
⚽ 32' 1-0 Union. Amoura ran away from Quansah and Konate, around Kelleher and slotted it home. VAR check for offside... but the goal stands.
Empire of the Kop, X: "That's properly unlucky for Kelleher. Had positioned himself well there for the 1v1 with Amoura"
Igniz, This Is Anfield: "Jones dwelling on the ball because reasons..."
dicksienormis, Reddit: "Bruh we’re playing a team that have no experience of playing together against a team that probably play together most game weeks. If some of our players don’t look good it’s understandable and not a big deal."
⌚ 27' Doak gets praise for his persistence.
Empire of the Kop, X: "Don't quite know how Ben Doak just kept the ball on the pitch, blasted it at the corner flag and it still didn't go out"
⌚ 21' Nilsson muscles through Quansah on goal, but Kelleher saves.
LFC Transfer Room, X: "Kelleher pulls out an incredible save after going one on one against the opposition forward. Terrible defensive work from LFC, we need more organization and someone to command.:
⌚ 18' Kelleher saves a shot from a tight angle.
⌚ 17' The pressure on Liverpool has somewhat eased. No chances created by the Reds, though.
⌚ 10' Sadiki aims a shot from just outside the box. Goes wide.
Similar-Wolverine-10, Reddit: "Our wingbacks are getting cooked so far. Our flanks look awful."
⌚ 7' Union are up for it. Konate clears a few crosses.
Igniz, This Is Anfield: "Gonna be a tough battle. The opposition won't hold back and may want to make a statement that they don't like being disrespected by the line-up we've put out. Still buzzing."
⌚ 3' Ben Doak plas on the left wing to accommodate Kaide Gordon coming in on the right. The latter makes his return for the senior side after almost two years.
⌚ 1' We're underway!
🗣️ Jurgen Klopp on his selection:
"The main job of the group is done. The amount of games we have, we have to make sure we find the right lineup for each game, for tonight it’s a big opportunity for a lot of my players. Nice mix of experience and youth."
👉 In case you missed it, here are the starting lineups.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Bradley, Konate, Quansah, Chambers; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Doak, Gakpo, Gordon.
Union: Moris; Mac Allister, Burgess, Machida; Castro-Montes, Amani, Sadiki, Puertas, Lapoussin; Amoura, Nilsson.
👋 Hello and welcome to Lotto Park! Today, Liverpool play their last game of the Europa League group stage as they take on Union Saint-Gilloise.
After completing all of their goals for this stage, Jurgen Klopp decided to field an experimental Liverpool side with six players that could have feasibly featured for the Under-21 team.
