Liverpool have taken maximum points in the Europa League group stage so far
Ryan Gravenberch scored his first goal for Liverpool as they beat Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
The summer signing struck just before half-time, slotting in after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot was parried by Anthony Moris.
That goal provided the spark in an otherwise dull first half of few chances at Anfield.
Darwin Nunez missed a big opportunity when he prodded wide from Mohamed Salah’s cross, while Gustaf Nilsson headed over from close range for the visitors.
The excellent Gravenberch was denied a second just after the hour when his dipping effort was pushed behind by Moris.
The Belgian side applied late pressure but Liverpool wrapped up the win when Diogo Jota slotted in after a quick break.
This was not a memorable performance by Liverpool but, after the video assistant referee controversy following Saturday’s Premier League defeat at Tottenham, it was a routine and incident-free win.
Liverpool top Group E with six points from two games.
“Job done,” said manager Jurgen Klopp.
“You cannot only win if you are really exciting. It is good for us as we can learn a lot from this game.
“With rhythm we look one way and without we look another. With exactly the same players. Plenty of things to learn and we will use that.”
- Have your say on Liverpool’s performance
Gravenberch catches the eye
Netherlands midfielder Gravenberch, 21, arrived from Bayern Munich but has had to be patient for the opportunity to show what he can do.
His Premier League appearances have been off the bench, with his two previous starts coming in the Europa League and League Cup.
But this was an eye-catching performance by Gravenberch, who produced an all-action display, putting in tackles, creating opportunities and scoring the opener.
He has a goal and two assists in three starts, a return that will likely push him closer to starting in the Premier League.
“It’s great,” Gravenberch told TNT Sports. “It feels super good. It was the best goal of my career so far.
“It doesn’t matter [how it comes]. A goal is a goal.”
Brothers reunited
Kevin and Alexis Mac Allister were facing each other for the first time as professionals
This was not a match packed with memorable moments and there was a collective sigh of relief around the ground when Jota struck to avoid any late drama.
But the game will live long in the memory of the Mac Allister family.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis came on at half-time, which meant he faced his brother Kevin, who started the match as a defender for Union SG, for the first time in his career.
While Alexis claimed the bragging rights with Liverpool’s win, it was a good performance by Kevin as he helped frustrate the hosts for long periods.
“Today my dad was here, but I am sure everybody in our family was watching the TV, so it was special,” Alexis said.
“My dad played and knows what it means to play your brother as my uncle was too. I guess he cried a little bit.”
Kevin said: “He [Alexis] is the reason I suffer today but it is a very special moment.
“Liverpool in the last match come to Belgium. It is our revenge maybe, but today I am only thinking in this game with Alexis and my family and now it is the best part of the match.”
Player of the match
GravenberchRyan Gravenberch
with an average of 7.56
- LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool
- Union Saint-GilloiseUnion Saint-GilloiseUnion Saint-Gilloise
Liverpool
Avg
Squad number38Player nameGravenberchAverage rating7.56
- Squad number8Player nameSzoboszlaiAverage rating
7.48
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating7.34
- Squad number7Player nameDíazAverage rating
7.31
- Squad number10Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating
7.26
- Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating
7.16
- Squad number78Player nameQuansahAverage rating
7.11
- Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
7.10
- Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number9Player nameNúñezAverage rating
7.05
- Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating
7.02
- Squad number2Player nameGomezAverage rating
6.92
- Squad number19Player nameElliottAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number17Player nameJonesAverage rating
6.87
- Squad number3Player nameEndoAverage rating
6.84
- Squad number21Player nameTsimikasAverage rating
6.78
Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating
Squad number2Player nameGomezAverage ratingUnion Saint-Gilloise
Avg
- Squad number16Player nameBurgessAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number5Player nameMac AllisterAverage rating
6.56
- Squad number47Player nameAmouraAverage rating
5.69
- Squad number8Player nameAmaniAverage rating
5.60
- Squad number26Player nameSykesAverage rating
5.60
- Squad number29Player nameNilssonAverage rating
5.55
- Squad number23Player namePuertasAverage rating
5.51
- Squad number24Player nameVanhoutteAverage rating
5.48
- Squad number28Player nameMachidaAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number27Player nameSadikiAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number17Player nameTerhoAverage rating
5.46
- Squad number49Player nameMorisAverage rating
5.38
- Squad number13Player nameRodríguezAverage rating
5.37
- Squad number4Player nameRasmussenAverage rating
5.35
- Squad number21Player nameCastro-MontesAverage rating
5.33
- Squad number10Player nameLapoussinAverage rating
5.23
- Line-ups
- Match Stats
- Live Text
Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté78Quansah21Tsimikas19Elliott3Endo38Gravenberch11Salah9Núñez20Jota
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forGomezat 63’minutes
- 5Konaté
- 78Quansah
- 21Tsimikas
- 19Elliott
- 3EndoSubstituted forMac Allisterat 45’minutes
- 38GravenberchSubstituted forSzoboszlaiat 79’minutes
- 11SalahSubstituted forJonesat 45’minutes
- 9NúñezSubstituted forDíazat 45’minutes
- 20Jota
Substitutes
- 2Gomez
- 4van Dijk
- 7Díaz
- 8Szoboszlai
- 10Mac Allister
- 17Jones
- 26Robertson
- 32Matip
- 44Chambers
- 50Doak
- 56Jaros
- 93Mrozek
Union Saint-Gilloise
Formation 5-3-2
49Moris21Castro-Montes5Mac Allister16Burgess28Machida17Terho8Amani24Vanhoutte23Puertas29Nilsson47Amoura
- 49Moris
- 21Castro-Montes
- 5Mac AllisterSubstituted forSykesat 86’minutes
- 16Burgess
- 28Machida
- 17TerhoSubstituted forLapoussinat 68’minutes
- 8AmaniSubstituted forRasmussenat 75’minutes
- 24VanhoutteSubstituted forSadikiat 75’minutes
- 23Puertas
- 29NilssonSubstituted forRodríguezat 67’minutes
- 47Amoura
Substitutes
- 4Rasmussen
- 9Eckert Ayensa
- 10Lapoussin
- 11Teklab
- 13Rodríguez
- 14Imbrechts
- 26Sykes
- 27Sadiki
- 34Wenssens
- 35Huygevelde
- 48Leysen
Referee:Morten Krogh
Match Stats
Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamUnion Saint-GilloisePossessionHome73%Away27%ShotsHome19Away6Shots on TargetHome9Away2CornersHome7Away11FoulsHome9Away14
Live Text
Post update
Match ends, Liverpool 2, Union Saint-Gilloise 0.
- 90’+6′
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 2, Union Saint-Gilloise 0.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Joe Gomez (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 90’+5′
Post update
Foul by Cameron Puertas (Union Saint-Gilloise).
- 90’+4′
Post update
Attempt saved. Mohammed Amoura (Union Saint-Gilloise) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
- 90’+2’goal
Goal!
Goal! Liverpool 2, Union Saint-Gilloise 0. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
- 90′
Post update
Corner, Union Saint-Gilloise. Conceded by Jarell Quansah.
- 86′
Post update
Attempt missed. Curtis Jones (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left following a fast break.
- 86′
Substitution
Substitution, Union Saint-Gilloise. Ross Sykes replaces Kevin Mac Allister.
- 85′
Post update
Attempt missed. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Curtis Jones.
- 85′
Post update
Offside, Union Saint-Gilloise. Noah Sadiki tries a through ball, but Mohammed Amoura is caught offside.
- 83′
Post update
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 83′
Post update
Foul by Kevin Rodríguez (Union Saint-Gilloise).
- 81′
Post update
Corner, Union Saint-Gilloise. Conceded by Jarell Quansah.
- 79′
Post update
Offside, Liverpool. Ibrahima Konaté tries a through ball, but Luis Díaz is caught offside.
- 79′
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Dominik Szoboszlai replaces Ryan Gravenberch.
- 76′
Post update
Attempt missed. Alessio Castro-Montes (Union Saint-Gilloise) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner.
- 75′
Substitution
Substitution, Union Saint-Gilloise. Noah Sadiki replaces Charles Vanhoutte.
- 75′
Substitution
Substitution, Union Saint-Gilloise. Mathias Rasmussen replaces Lazare Amani.
- 75′
Post update
Attempt missed. Kostas Tsimikas (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister.
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