While the result of Liverpool’s final Europa League game was largely irrelevant, it will be the performance, rather than the 2-1 defeat, that will surely disappoint Jurgen Klopp. Not necessarily the performance of the youngsters, though none advanced their cause other than Quansah, but that of the more experienced.
Curtis Jones will long remember this game, though given the honour of captaining his home city side he, along with Harvey Elliot, Wataru Endo and Cody Gakpo, offered little. Surrounded by youngsters, they provided neither solidity nor attacking thrust. The lack of physicality of much of Klopp’s starting 11 with three teenagers amongst them, many of whom were making their European debut, was a problem from the outset. Equally, heavy touches on a poor pitch didn’t help, but Union SG simply waited for Liverpool to turn over the ball before attacking and that’s exactly what led to the Belgians’ opening goal on 30 minutes. Jones losing the ball on the half-way line before Amoura’s advance on goal which needed a fortunate deflection off Caoimhin Kelleher, before slotting the ball into an empty net.
A second from the hosts always looked likely but, from Liverpool’s only first-half corner, it was Jarell Quansah, free near the penalty spot, who thumped in his side’s equaliser. Parity was short lived, as Puertas’ low strike soon restored the lead and he had a second later disallowed for hand ball. The hosts, clearly the better team, looked as though they’d add further goals in the second half, but Klopp’s changes helped stem the time, despite the introduction of Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez not materially increasing the goal threat.
Only the third defeat this season, two in Europe, Liverpool have more significant games in the weeks ahead. Both Manchester United and Arsenal visiting Anfield before Christmas, while Ben Doak, Luke Chambers, and Kaide Gordon, amongst Liverpool’s youngest ever European starting 11 in Brussels, will surely wish they’d shown a little more to the travelling Kop. Klopp, whilst overseeing his 2000th goal as a manager, will no doubt believe that the re-introduction of Mo Salah, Alisson Becker, Virgil van Djik, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dominik Szoboszlai, will ensure a more significant and productive performance on Sunday when a United team, surely bereft of confidence following their mid-week European elimination, make the short journey along the East Lancs Road.
