Preview: Liverpool vs Union SG – Team News, Predictions, and line-up
Looking to bounce back from last weekend’s controversial Premier League defeat, Liverpool welcome Union SG to Anfield on Thursday night for the Europa League group stage.
The Reds currently top Group E after beating LASK Linz 3-1 in the opening week, while their Belgian counterparts were held to a 1-1 draw by Toulouse in their opening group game.
Match preview
Liverpool’s 17-game losing streak in the Premier League ended in dramatic and controversial circumstances when they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday – their first loss in any competition since April 1.
Luis Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed in the first half due to “significant human error” by VAR, just 10 minutes after Curtis Jones was sent off for a challenge following a late VAR review. The Reds were then reduced to nine men midway through the second half as Diogo Jota quickly picked up two yellow cards, before salt was rubbed into Liverpool’s wounds when Joel Matip turned Pedro Porro’s cross into his own net in the 96th. a minute
Jurgen Klopp expressed his frustration with the referees after the game and Liverpool, who dropped to fourth in the table, later issued a strong statement claiming that “sporting integrity has been breached” and they plan to “explore options” to try to resolve. the thing a problem
Amidst the ongoing VAR controversy in the Premier League, Liverpool will look to turn heads when they resume their Europa League group stage campaign on Thursday with a first leg against Union SG. Liverpool will certainly welcome a return in midweek. Anfield.
Indeed, the Reds have won 15 of their last 21 home Europa League games in UEFA competition and have won all of their last seven group stage matches, while they have also lost just one of their last 15 meetings between Belgian sides – a 3-1 defeat. . Anderlecht in the 1978 European Super Cup.
Union SG, who competed in the Europa League group stage for the second season in a row, were able to salvage a point at home two weeks ago in their Group E opener against Toulouse. Thijs Dallinga put the French in front at the break but Union SG restored parity in the 69th minute thanks to in-form striker Mohamed Amoura. He came off the bench to score his fourth goal in three games.
Since then, Alexander Blessin’s side have won three consecutive Belgian Pro League matches, including a 3-1 home win over Charleroi last weekend, helping the Saint-Gilles club maintain their position at the top of the table, albeit with a six-goal margin. . games
Union SG reached the quarter-finals on their Europa League debut in 2022-23 after topping their group, but finishing above Liverpool at the top of Group E this season looms large, so securing second place ahead of Toulouse and LASK Linz is very good . a realistic goal for Blessin and co. .
Les Unionistes go into Thursday’s contest aiming to become the first Belgian club to avoid defeat at Liverpool and can go to Anfield upbeat having not lost any of their five away games in last season’s Europa League.
Union SG’s only previous meeting with English opponents came in the 1958–60 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup when they lost both legs against Birmingham City. Team news
Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo is out for several weeks with a knee injury he picked up in the first half of last weekend’s draw against Spurs, while Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Stefan Bajcetic (calf) are both in the hospital.
Klopp is expected to refresh his starting line-up with Caoimhin Kelleher replacing Alisson Becker in goal, while Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas could leave at full-back and Trent Alexander-Arnold started as a substitute, only recently recovered. Hamstring problem.
Darwin Nunez – who has been directly involved in eight goals (six goals and two assists) in as many Europa League matches – is the most likely candidate to replace the injured Gakpo up front, while Jota, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott are. expected to come in as substitutes last weekend to enter the XI series.
Union SG’s only injury concern is star striker Dennis Eckert Ayensa, who has missed the last four games with knock and will be assessed ahead of Thursday’s game – the Spaniard has seven goals in eight games this season.
In Ayensa’s possible absence, Gustaf Nilsson will lead the line, with Amoura, Cameron Puertas and Lazare Amani looking to earn a starting spot in the final third. Boca Juniors loanee Kevin MacAllister – brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis MacAllister – is expected to start in a back three with former Portsmouth defender Christian Burgess and Fedde Leysen, while Alessio Castro-Montes and Loic Lapoussi could be called upon on the flanks. . .
Liverpool’s possible starting line-up:
Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Jota
Possible Union SG starting line-up:
Morris; MacAllister, Burgess, Lejsen; Castro-Montes, Sadiki, Vanhoutte, Lapoussin; Amani, Nilsson, Puertas
We say: Liverpool 3:1 Union SG
Union SG’s impressive away form bodes well for Anfield and they will be confident of finding the back of the net as Liverpool have conceded 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions.
However, Liverpool should ultimately have too much quality for the Belgian visitors, even if Klopp decides to rest some key players, and the Reds should have no problem picking up maximum points to maintain their perfect start to Group E.
