Liverpool’s youngest European workforce of their historical past discovered the Europa League simply too powerful for them in Brussels as Jurgen Klopp’s experimental aspect misplaced the lifeless rubber 2-1 at Union Saint Gilloise.
A primary senior purpose for the ever-improving 20-year-old centre-back Jarell Quansah, their 14th completely different scorer this season, was the one spotlight on a testing night for Klopp’s younger weapons.
Quansah’s Fortieth-minute leveller equalled a membership file Thirty fourth-successive goal-scoring match, with Manchester United on Sunday standing in the way in which of a brand new landmark and Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker all to return after being left at dwelling.
Liverpool’s prime spot was already safe regardless of a second defeat however the win took Union into the Europa Convention League play-offs.
The workforce’s common age was simply 21.9 years outdated – Wataru Endo, 30, 5 years older than the subsequent senior participant – with solely Ibrahima Konate and Cody Gakpo thought of common starters.
No shock then the early risk got here from the hosts, defeated solely as soon as on dwelling soil this season, with Noah Sidiki and Koki Machida each astray.
A uncommon assault noticed Gakpo’s stability fail him on the important second after chesting down Conor Bradley’s crossfield cross inside the world however Liverpool, with six gamers 20 or below, understandably struggled for rhythm and management.
Caoimhin Kelleher saved effectively from Mohammed Amoura and Gustaf Nilsson, who outpaced Quansah to a ball performed into the fitting channel – an avenue from which the opener got here.
Each Curtis Jones and Endo seemed like they could have been fouled earlier than Amoura burst free to attain after Kelleher half-saved his preliminary effort however VAR dominated there was not sufficient in these challenges or an offside.
Quansah’s purpose was completely executed; the defender killing lifeless Jones’ nook to blast dwelling as compensation for the last-gasp equaliser VAR denied him within the 4-3 defeat to Toulouse final month.
Nevertheless, Kelleher’s positioning was questionable when Cameron Puertas beat him too simply at his right-hand submit simply earlier than the break as Union retook the lead.
Joe Gomez changed Konate – each are competing to start out in opposition to Manchester United on Sunday however Quansah was the perfect centre-back on present – and Ryan Gravenberch got here on for Endo to scale back the typical age even additional nevertheless it did little to vary the move.
When Puertas beat Kelleher once more softly, this time all the way down to his left, Klopp had already despatched on Darwin Nunez and 18-year-old left-back Calum Scanlon earlier than VAR dominated out the purpose for Lazare Amani’s handball.
Nilsson heading large and Puertas forcing one other save maintained the stress, nevertheless, and the very fact Liverpool’s second shot of the sport – Anthony Moris saving from Gravenberch and later from Harvey Elliott – within the 78th minute confirmed how little impression the guests had.
