Liverpool end tumultuous week with routine win over Union Saint-Gilloise

The performance was average but Liverpool and Jürgen Klopp found release in their Europa League tie against Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium nonetheless. A return to winning ways, with a minimum of fuss and no controversy to debate for the next five days, was a welcome distraction as well as another step towards the knockout stages for the tournament favourites.

Ryan Gravenberch scored his first Liverpool goal since arriving on deadline day from Bayern Munich and Diogo Jota, wrongly dismissed in the highly contentious defeat at Tottenham on Saturday, sealed victory in stoppage time as Liverpool strengthened their grip on Group E. Union threatened to punish Liverpool in the second half but a fine breakaway goal from Jota, finishing with confidence after being released by substitute Luis Díaz, made it two wins out of two in the Europa League for Klopp’s team.

Carlos Mac Allister, a former professional with Argentinos Juniors and Boca Juniors, had 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 centre-back, stopped a Union attack in its tracks with a solid challenge on Lazare Amani near the halfway line. The Egypt international sensed an opening as soon as Quansah connected with a ball that sailed through an exposed Union defence. Only a fine save from Anthony Moris, who stopped Salah’s low shot with a strong hand down to his right, denied Liverpool the ideal start.

An offside flag – a correct one no less – ruled out a tap-in from Núñez after Ryan Gravenberch had stung Moris’s palms with a blistering drive from the edge of the area. The Uruguay international then missed a glorious chance to open the scoring when a surging run and measured pass from Harvey Elliott released Salah behind the Belgian defence. Salah’s first time cross found Núñez arriving into the six yard box unmarked but he side-footed wide with Moris stranded. The buzz of disbelief inside Anfield and the collective heads-in-hands from the Liverpool players said it all. Núñez was closer with a more difficult half volley from an Ibrahima Konaté long ball, but the Union keeper saved again.

Moris’s encouraging evening was spoiled by his part in Liverpool’s seemingly-inevitable breakthrough. Alexander-Arnold started the move when receiving Alisson’s pass on the edge of his own area and embarking on a surging run deep into the Union half. Following a swift exchange with Núñez, Liverpool’s captain for the night 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 for his first Liverpool goal.

The visitors threatened to reward their boisterous 2,500 following sporadically, although the combination of Gustaf Nilsson’s power and Mohammed Amoura’s pace in attack kept the Liverpool defence on constant 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 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.

An uncharacteristic error from Alisson almost presented Union with an equaliser early in the second half. The Liverpool keeper missed his attempted punch at a Puertas corner. The ball struck Kevin Mac Allister and was bobbling towards the Liverpool goal until Quansah spared his keeper with a timely clearance.

The Mac Allister family got the reunion they craved when Alexis entered the contest as part of a triple half-time substitution from Klopp. The midfielder soon made an impact, floating a delightful cross into the heart of the Union area for Jota to draw another fine save from Moris with a thumping header. Moris impressed again when tipping over Gravenberch’s curling effort from the corner of the penalty area.