Union SG 2 Liverpool 1: Youngest-ever Reds team in European history tops Europa League group despite loss
JURGEN KLOPP fielded Liverpool’s youngest ever team for a European match but they could have no complaints over this defeat in Brussels.
With top spot in the group already sealed, Klopp left Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah at home to prepare for Sunday’s home game with Manchester United.
Instead, youngsters Luke Chambers, Conor Bradley, Kaide Gordon and Ben Doak all got their chance to impress.
This meant the average age of the starting XI was 22 years and 156 days with eight of the side having represented the club’s academy teams including home-grown star Curtis Jones, who was captain for the night.
Liverpool lost to a strike from Cameron Puertas after Reds defender Jarell Quansah cancelled out an opener from Mohammed Amoura – but the defeat for Klopp’s team could easily have been worse.
In particular, it was a difficult night for defenders Bradley and Chambers who were facing a team with an outside chance of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Caoimhin Kelleher delivered a decent save to deny Gustaf Nilsson but Liverpool’s Irish keeper was left exposed when he was rounded by Algerian winger Amoura to score the first in the 32nd minute.
Completely against the run of play, Liverpool equalised when Quansah had time to control Jones’ corner and he then smashed the ball into the net for his first ever goal for the club.
Just before the break, the Belgians deservedly moved ahead again with a decent strike from Puertas but Keller should have done better
Puertas beat Kelleher again from just inside the area after the hour but following a VAR check, the strike was disallowed for an earlier handball.
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Liverpool finish the group in first place with four wins and two defeats.
Toulouse progress to the play-off stage after coming in second – having also inflicted a defeat on Klopp’s Reds in November.
As for Union SG, they crash out of the competition despite ending on a high.