Gravenberch grabs first Liverpool goal in fuss-free win over Union Saint-Gilloise
There will be no calls to replay this game but Jürgen Klopp got what he needed from the visit of Union Saint-Gilloise nonetheless. Liverpool returned to winning ways with a minimum of fuss and without being dragged into any controversies that might dominate the football agenda for the next five days. The Europa League served as a release.
A modest Liverpool performance was notable for the first goal of Ryan Gravenberch’s Anfield career plus a vibrant, threatening contribution from the deadline day signing from Bayern Munich. Diogo Jota buried the frustration of his harsh red card at Tottenham – or incorrect red card according to the Premier League’s key match incidents panel – with a clinical second to seal victory in stoppage time. Union threatened to punish a subdued second-half display from Klopp’s team but the tournament favourites are easing towards the knockout stage after only two matches.
“I knew it would be difficult,” admitted Klopp, widely criticised for saying the Spurs game should be replayed because of the VAR shambles that disallowed a legitimate Luis Díaz goal. “When I spoke about the other game yesterday you proved to me how the world is. Everyone who was here heard what I said but everyone understood something else. That’s OK. If I gave the impression that I was still in the game against Tottenham, I was not at all. We are over that. Diogo is over it as well and Joël [Matip] could have played as well because he is over it. We are not children. It was not a problem to focus on this game. It was a problem to keep focused in the game and we got a bit sluggish, but that was nothing to do with the last game or the last week.”
This was a memorable tie for the Mac Allister family. Carlos Mac Allister, a former professional with Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors, travelled to Merseyside along with several family members to watch two of his sons, Liverpool midfielder Alexis and Union defender Kevin, compete against each other for the first time in Europe. A proud, unforgettable moment for any family, no doubt, and one delayed for 45 minutes because Klopp named his World Cup-winning midfielder on the bench. The rotter.
There was no disputing the seriousness of the Liverpool manager’s approach towards securing a comfortable position in the group as quickly as possible, however. Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from a month out with a hamstring injury to captain the side while Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez and Jota formed a strong front three. Alisson remained in goal after his Europa League deputy, Caoimhín Kelleher, sustained a knee injury in training that required a dozen stitches and ruled him out of the Republic of Ireland’s latest squad.
Salah’s sharpness almost brought Liverpool an early lead when Jarell Quansah, the emerging young centreback, stopped Lazare Amani with a solid challenge near the halfway line. Quansah’s tackle diverted the ball through the heart of Union’s defence to Salah and it took a fine save from Anthony Moris to deny Liverpool the ideal start.
An offside flag – a correct one, no less – ruled out a tap-in from Núñez after Gravenberch stung Moris’s palms with a blistering drive. The Uruguay international then missed a glorious chance when a surging run and measured pass from Harvey Elliott released Salah behind the Belgian defence. Salah’s first time cross found Núñez inside the six-yard box but he sidefooted wide with Moris stranded.
Moris’s confident display was spoiled by his part in Liverpool’s inevitable breakthrough. Alexander-Arnold started the move when receiving Alisson’s pass on the edge of his own area before motoring into the Union half. Following a swift exchange with Núñez, Liverpool’s captain sent a low shot towards Moris’s goal. The keeper, deceived by the flight of the ball, spilled it and Gravenberch was on hand for the simplest of finishes.
The visitors threatened to reward their boisterous 2,500 following sporadically, and the combination of Gustaf Nilsson’s power and Mohamed Amoura’s pace in attack kept the Liverpool defence on alert. Nilsson headed over from Cameron Puertas’ free-kick when, having soared above Jota inside the six yard area, he should have at least hit the target. Union’s best chance of the first half came moments after falling behind. A neat touch from Nilsson sent his strike partner sprinting clear of Ibrahima Konaté and through on Alisson’s goal. Amoura chipped the advancing Liverpool keeper but the effort lacked power and Konaté recovered to clear in front of the Kop.
The Mac Allister family got the reunion they craved when Alexis entered the contest as part of a triple half-time substitution. The midfielder soon made an impact, floating a delightful cross on to the head of Jota who was thwarted by another Moris save. The keeper also
tipped over from Gravenberch and saw an offside Díaz hit the inside of a post.
Liverpool were far from dominant in the second half, however, and grateful to a confident finish from Jota when played through by Díaz for a relaxing end to a troubled week.