Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Europa League result and final score as Diogo Jota goal seals win
Liverpool 2-0 Union Saint-Gilloise: Jurgen Klopp’s side made it two wins from two in Group E thanks to Jota and Ryan Gravenberch goals at Anfield
Ryan Gravenberch benefited from an error by Union Saint-Gilloise goalkeeper Anthony Moris to score his first goal for the club as Liverpool laboured to a 2-0 Europa League victory to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group E.
For all the attacking firepower at their disposal - and it was considerable with Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota boasting 248 goals between them - it was a 21-year-old former Ajax and Bayern Munich midfielder who had scored just nine in five years who popped up with the breakthrough at a crucial moment a minute before half-time.
That two of the front three were replaced at the interval was more down to a prepared plan rather than a reflection of their first-half contributions but if either had been anywhere close to their sharpest the game would have been out of sight before Gravenberch’s intervention.
Jota remained on for the whole game and scored the second with a breakaway in added time to ease any late nerves.
Follow live updates from Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League and get the latest match odds here.
Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
16 mins: WHAT A MISS! Liverpool slice Union open and Salah does the unselfish thing by squaring to Darwin Nunez. It’s an open goal, but the striker somehow puts it wide from in front of the posts!
Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
13 mins: Liverpool have got into a habit of conceding first in games lately. They did so in Austria against LASK but have started well tonight. Jurgen Klopp will be keen to get up and running, which is likely why he has named such a strong side.
Union give it away cheaply but Elliott’s shot is cleared, looked to have been going wide anyway.
NO GOAL! Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
9 mins: Liverpool have the ball in the net but the flag is up...
This time, the officials have definitely got it right.
It’s good from Ryan Gravenberch, though, who shifts the ball out of his feet and strikes at goal. Moris gets a hand to it but spills, leaving Nunez with the tap in. The Uruguayan was offside, though.
VAR not needed just yet.
Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
5 mins: CHANCE! LIverpool should be ahead! Quansah wins a ball in defence and it suddenly breaks to Salah, who is through on goal! You expect the net to ripple but instead Union goalkeeper Anthony Moris makes a big save to his left.
Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
2 mins: Ibrahima Konate is the experienced centre-back in the Liverpool defence tonight, as he starts alongside Jarell Quansah. The Frenchman races across to cut out a Union counter-attack. The Belgian side look quick up front.
Liverpool 0-0 Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
KICK-OFF! Underway at Anfield. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the local captain of the Reds tonight. Union kick off and will attack the Kop first on what is the first meeting between the sides.
Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
Jurgen Klopp, speaking to TNT Sport on this week’s VAR controversy: “I’m over it.”
Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
Mohamed Salah is already Liverpool’s all-time record goalscorer in European competitions, but most of those goals have come in the Champions League. Salah starts at home against Union Saint-Gilloise and will hope to add to that impressive record. The Egyptian scored late on to seal Liverpool’s 3-1 win at LASK in their Europa League opener.
Kick-off is next!
Europa League result: Marseille 2-2 Brighton
It’s full time in the early kick-offs, and that’s a brilliant point for Brighton in Marseille. The Premier League were two goals down inside 20 minutes but battle back to earn their first European point. It’s keeps their chances of getting through to the knock-outs stages very much alive ahead of a double-header with Ajax.
West Ham got a great result away from home with a 2-1 win at Freiburg, but there was a huge shock as managerless Rangers lost 2-1 at Aris Limassol.
Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise LIVE: Latest Europa League updates
Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold was included in Gareth Southgate’s England squad ahead of the October internationals against Australia and Italy.
Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen returned to the England set-up but there was no place for Raheem Sterling once again.
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