Ryan Gravenberch scored his first Liverpool purpose as they beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 at Anfield within the Europa League.
Gravenberch capitalised on an error from Union goalkeeper Anthony Moris to complete from close-range simply earlier than the break after Darwin Nunez missed a sitter. Diogo Jota sealed the win off the bench in stoppage-time as Liverpool put Saturday’s VAR controversy behind them.
On a subdued evening at Anfield, Liverpool acquired via the sport in opposition to the Belgian league leaders regardless of a sub-par efficiency and now sit atop Group E after taking most factors from their first two video games. French aspect Toulouse are second on 4 factors with Union and LASK Linz behind them.
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Sky Sports activities Information’ Melissa Reddy discusses the potential for Liverpool’s match in opposition to Tottenham being replayed, following the VAR controversy
Jurgen Klopp will likely be happy to have seen all his gamers come via unscathed after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota picked up suspensions at Tottenham and Cody Gakpo suffered an harm. Liverpool look to get again on monitor within the league after Saturday’s acrimonious defeat with a visit to Brighton on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities.
How Liverpool put VAR controversy behind them
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Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch has three purpose contributions in three begins for his new aspect
Liverpool had been hoping to maneuver on from the controversy of the VAR horror present at Tottenham on Saturday however had a reminder of Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed purpose after 10 minutes when Nunez was flagged offside after discovering the again of the online. This time the proper determination was made.
The hosts dominated possession however appeared blunt after making 9 adjustments. Mohamed Salah, maybe a shock starter in Europe’s second-tier competitors, was unable to discover a well beyond Union goalkeeper Moris when via on purpose early on.
Workforce information
Liverpool made 9 adjustments following Saturday’s defeat at Spurs, with Trent Alexander-Arnold beginning for the primary time for greater than a month after recovering from harm.
Alexis Mac Allister needed to accept a spot on the bench whereas his brother, named after Kevin from House Alone, began for Union Saint-Gilloise.
Regardless of Liverpool’s unconvincing efficiency the possibilities stored coming. Nunez spurned an opportunity from six yards with the purpose gaping after a cross from Salah. Union almost punished Nunez’s profligacy from a nook however Gustaf Nilsson headed over.
The breakthrough was a present simply earlier than the break as Union goalkeeper Moris spilled Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot into the trail of Gravenberch. The midfielder, a £34.2m Deadline Day signing from Bayern Munich, acquired off the mark from point-blank vary.
Klopp, seemingly unimpressed by his aspect’s efficiency, made a triple change on the break however Liverpool nonetheless struggled to get going. Alisson almost scored an personal purpose as he mistimed a punch which needed to be cleared away from the goal-line by Liverpool’s 20-year-old defender Jarell Quansah.
Alexander-Arnold, making his first begin for over a month, acquired an hour below his belt earlier than being taken off as he continues to stand up to hurry following an harm. Alexis Mac Allister got here off the bench to share the pitch along with his youthful brother, Kevin, for the primary time.
Anfield turned anxious as Liverpool failed to increase their lead with Jota seeing a header denied by a theatrical save from Moris. Diaz, one other substitute, additionally wasted probability, placing the publish within the latter levels as Union threatened however failed to provide something of word.
Jota then put the outcome past doubt in stoppage-time on a counter-attack with a medical end. The Portugal worldwide, who now has six objectives for membership and nation this season, will likely be a miss for Liverpool forward of a difficult recreation at Brighton on Sunday.
Whereas it was removed from classic, Klopp can take consolation in the truth that his Liverpool aspect are within the behavior of profitable even when they’re beneath the specified customary. One other three factors additionally takes the Reds one step nearer to securing early qualification to the final 16.
What’s subsequent?
Liverpool face Brighton on the Amex Stadium within the Premier League on Sunday, dwell on Sky Sports activities Premier League from 1pm; kick-off 2pm.
Sunday eighth October 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
The worldwide break then follows earlier than Liverpool return to league motion with the Merseyside derby at Anfield in opposition to Everton on Saturday October 21; kick-off 12.30pm.