Europa League: Liverpool edge out Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield

• Liverpool hosted Union Saint-Gilloise in a UEFA Europa League clash at Anfield
• Jurgen Klopp fronted a strong line up seemingly looking for a comfortable win
• The Reds did not disappoint, scoring 2-0 to maintain their perfect start in this season’s Europa League 

Liverpool maintained their perfect record in Group E of the UEFA Europa League with a 2-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise, thanks to goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota. However, the scoreline didn’t reflect Liverpool’s dominance, as several missed chances kept the game closer than it should have been.

Gravenberch opened the scoring just before half-time after Union Saint-Gilloise goalkeeper Anthony Moris made an error, allowing the 21-year-old midfielder to score his first goal for Liverpool. Jota added a second in added time to secure the win.

Despite having attacking talents like Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Diogo Jota on the pitch, it was Gravenberch who made the breakthrough. Salah, in his first Europa League start for Liverpool, had a chance to open the scoring in the fifth minute but couldn’t beat the goalkeeper.

Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch celebrates after scoring the opener against Union Saint-Gilloise in a UEFA Europa League clash. | PHOTO: Sky Sport |

Liverpool continued to create opportunities, but Nunez’s early rebound goal was ruled offside, and he missed another chance when he shot wide from close range. Salah had a header saved, Jota had a penalty claim denied, and Nunez had a shot tipped around the post.

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Union Saint-Gilloise held on until just before half-time when Liverpool’s captain-for-the-night, Trent Alexander-Arnold, took a shot from outside the box that Moris failed to hold onto, giving Gravenberch the chance to tap in the rebound from close range.

At half-time, Liverpool made three substitutions, replacing Salah, Nunez, and Wataru Endo with Luis Diaz, Curtis Jones, and Alexis Mac Allister. Union Saint-Gilloise had an early scare when Alisson Becker missed a punch at a corner, but it was cleared by Jarrell Quansah.

Moris made several crucial saves to deny Liverpool from extending their lead, including tipping over a Jota header and stopping a curling shot from Gravenberch. When Moris was beaten by Diaz, his left-hand post came to the rescue, and Jones narrowly missed the target with a low shot.

Jota finally sealed the victory for Liverpool with a goal in added time. The win puts Liverpool in a strong position in Group E, with Toulouse two points behind them. However, Liverpool will need to be more clinical in front of goal to ensure comfortable progress in the competition.