Ryan Gravenberch scored his first Liverpool objective 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 night time at Anfield, Liverpool bought via the sport towards 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 facet Toulouse are second on 4 factors with Union and LASK Linz behind them.
Jurgen Klopp might 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 observe within the league after Saturday’s acrimonious defeat with a visit to Brighton on Sunday, stay on Sky Sports activities.
How Liverpool put VAR controversy behind them
Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch has three objective contributions in three begins for his new facet
Liverpool had a reminder of Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed objective after 10 minutes when Nunez was flagged offside after discovering the again of the online. This time the right determination was made.
The hosts dominated possession however seemed blunt after making 9 modifications. Mohamed Salah, maybe a shock starter in Europe’s second-tier competitors, was unable to discover a well past Union goalkeeper Moris when via on objective early on.
Regardless of Liverpool’s unconvincing efficiency the opportunties stored coming. Nunez spurned an opportunity from six yards with the objective gaping after a cross from Salah. Union practically 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, bought off the mark from point-blank vary.
Klopp, seemingly unimpressed by his facet’s efficiency, made a triple change on the break however Liverpool nonetheless struggled to get going. Alisson practically scored an personal objective 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, bought 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 together with his youthful brother, Kevin, for the primary time.
Anfield grew to become anxious as Liverpool failed to increase their lead with Jota and Gravenberch seeing efforts tipped over by Moris. Substitute Diaz additionally wasted probability, hanging the submit within the latter phases as Union threatened however failed to supply something of be aware.
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 targets for membership and nation this season, might 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 facet are within the behavior of successful even when they’re beneath the specified normal. One other three factors additionally takes the Reds one step nearer to securing early qualification to the final 16.
Klopp: Gravenberch a ‘prime bloke’
Liverpool supervisor Jurgen Klopp informed TNT Sports activities: “It was starting, however we misplaced rhythm and performed an excessive amount of across the formation and within the formation. We must always have had extra path and you’re taking what you get in these moments. We had been skilled however we might have been higher.”
On goalscorer Gravenberch, he added: “He’s a prime bloke and I’m actually comfortable for him. In his time in Bayern it was not the tip of the world however he performed 35 video games which is kind of cheap for a younger participant. Now he can get rhythm and also you see that when he’s on the ball.
“After we can deliver him in the precise locations he’s actually unbelievable. All people is de facto happy for him. It was perhaps not probably the most tough objective he is scored in his profession however a objective is a objective. All of them depend the identical.”
“If we will [rotate], I feel we must always strive it,” the Liverpool supervisor added. “It’s only brief turnaround for Brighton. Final yr we had been terrible there so we have now to do higher. I hate desirous about the sport after the sport however in these fast turnarounds we have now to. We do not have two strikers accessible for the subsequent recreation so we have now to do it.”
Gravenberch: One of the best objective of my profession
Liverpool midfielder Gravenberch informed TNT Sports activities: “It is nice. It feels tremendous good. It was the very best objective of profession to this point I feel. It would not matter [how it comes]. A objective is a objective.”
Requested what has modified at Liverpool, he mentioned: “I feel the minutes. Once you give a participant minutes you get assured and that is it.
“They’re very nice [at Liverpool, it’s] a extremely good group. There are additionally younger gamers right here and I’m simply having fun with it. I prefer it. I feel Liverpool did an incredible job to purchase such good gamers and we’re in such temper.”
On the standing ovation he obtained, Gravenberch added: ” [It meant] quite a bit, quite a bit. I’m very comfortable that they provide me such feeling and I wish to give them one thing again.”
What’s next?
Liverpool face Brighton on the Amex Stadium within the Premier League on Sunday, stay 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 towards Everton on Saturday October 21; kick-off 12.30pm.