Liverpool 2-0 Union Saint-Gilloise: Ryan Gravenberch scores first goal for Reds in Europa League win

By James On Oct 5, 2023

Ryan Gravenberch scored his first Liverpool goal as they beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 at Anfield in the Europa League.

Gravenberch took advantage of a mistake by Union goalkeeper Anthony Moris and finished from close range just before half-time, after Darwin Nunez missed a sitter. Diogo Jota sealed the win from the bench in stoppage time as Liverpool put Saturday’s VAR controversy behind them.

On a subdued evening at Anfield, Liverpool came through despite a sub-par performance against the Belgian leaders and now top Group E after taking maximum points from their opening two games. France’s Toulouse are second with four points, with Union and LASK Linz behind them.

Jurgen Klopp will be happy that all his players have come through unscathed after Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota received suspensions at Tottenham and Cody Gakpo picked up an injury. Liverpool will be looking to get back on track in the league after Saturday’s bitter defeat with a visit to Brighton on Sunday, live on Air sports.

How Liverpool put the VAR controversy behind them

Liverpool were reminded of Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal after ten minutes when Nunez was ruled offside after finding the back of the net. This time the right decision was made.

The home team dominated possession, but looked blunt after nine substitutions. Mohamed Salah, perhaps a surprise starter in European second-tier competition, could not find his way past Union goalkeeper Moris as he scored early on.

Despite Liverpool’s unconvincing performance, the chances kept coming. Nunez turned away a chance from six yards, with the goal gaping after Salah’s cross. Union almost punished Nunez’s profligacy from a corner, but Gustaf Nilsson headed over.

The breakthrough was a gift just before half-time when Union goalkeeper Moris spilled Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot into Gravenberch’s path. The midfielder, signed from Bayern Munich for £34.2million on Deadline Day, started from scratch.

Klopp, seemingly unimpressed by his side’s performance, made a triple substitution at half-time but Liverpool still struggled to get going. Alisson almost scored an own goal when he mistimed a strike that had to be cleared off the goal line by Liverpool’s 20-year-old defender Jarell Quansah.

Alexander-Arnold, making his first start in more than a month, got an hour under his belt before being sent off as he continues to get up to speed after an injury. Alexis Mac Allister came off the bench and shared the field with his younger brother Kevin for the first time.

Brother love

Alexis and his brother Kevin Mac Allister played against each other for the first time at Anfield on Thursday.

Alexis: “It’s special for my family. Today my dad was here, but I’m sure everyone in our family was watching TV, so it was special.

“My dad played and knows what it means to play your brother like my uncle did. I think he cried a little.”

Kevin: “He is the reason I am suffering today, but it is a very special moment. Of course, in the last match, Liverpool came to Belgium. It may be our revenge, but today all I think about is this match with Alexis and my family and now it’s the best part of the match.”

Anfield grew concerned as Liverpool failed to extend their lead, with Jota and Gravenberch seeing attempts knocked over by Moris. Substitute Diaz also squandered a good chance, hitting the post in the dying stages as Union threatened but produced nothing of note.

Jota then put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time after counter-attacking with a clinical finish. The Portugal international, who has now scored six goals for club and country this season, will be a miss for Liverpool ahead of a challenging clash at Brighton on Sunday.

Although it was far from vintage, Klopp can take solace in the fact that his Liverpool side have a habit of winning even when they are below the desired level. Another three points also takes the Reds one step closer to securing early qualification for the last 16.

Klopp: Gravenberch a ‘top guy’

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said this TNT Sports: “It was a good start but we lost the rhythm and played too much around the formation and in the formation. We should have had more direction and you have to take what you get in these moments. We were professional but it could have been better .”

On goalscorer Gravenberch, he added: “He’s a top guy and I’m very happy for him. In his time at Bayern it wasn’t the end of the world, but he played 35 games, which is reasonable for a young player. Now he can get a rhythm and you can see that when he has the ball.

“If we can get him in the right places, he is absolutely incredible. Everyone is very happy for him. It may not have been the most difficult goal he has scored in his career, but a goal is a goal. They all count the same. “

“If we can rotate, I think we should try,” the Liverpool manager added. “It’s just a quick turnaround for Brighton. We were terrible there last year so we have to do better. I hate to think about the game after the game but in these quick turnarounds we have to. We don’t have two attackers available for the match.” next game, so we have to do it.”

Gravenberch: The best goal of my career

Liverpool midfielder Gravenberch said TNT Sports: “It’s great. It feels super good. I think it was the best goal of my career so far. It doesn’t matter (how it happened). A goal is a goal.”

Asked what has changed at Liverpool, he said: “I think about the minutes. When you give a player minutes you get confidence and that’s it.”

“They’re really nice (at Liverpool, it’s) a really good group. There are young players here too and I just enjoy it. I like it. I think Liverpool have done a great job buying such good players and we are in such a situation.” a good humor.”

To the standing ovation he received, Gravenberch added: “(It meant) a lot, a lot. I’m very happy that they make me feel so good and I want to give them something back.”

What’s next?

Liverpool will play live against Brighton at the Amex Stadium in the Premier League on Sunday Sky Sports Premier League from 1 p.m.; starting at 2 p.m.

This is followed by the international break before Liverpool return to competition with the Merseyside derby at Anfield against Everton on Saturday, October 21; starting at 12.30 pm.