Union Saint-Gilloise vs Liverpool FC | UEFA Europa League | Player Ratings
Jurgen Klopp named a starting line-up that was surely as young as the youngest-ever starting XI for Liverpool FC in Europe against Union Saint-Gilloise. Only Wataru Endo and Jarell Quansah retained their place in the starting XI from our win away at Crystal Palace as the big quartet of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Alisson did not travel with the squad for our last group game in the UEFA Europa League.
Quansah and Ibrahima Konate were at the heart of the defence for the Reds with Luke Chambers and Conor Bradley flanking them on the left and right side respectively. Caoimhin Kelleher stood in goal. Endo had Harvey Elliott on his right and captain Curtis Jones on the left side of midfield with Ben Doak and Kaide Gordon leading the wing play for the Reds on the left and right side respectively. Cody Gakpo started through the middle.
Notably, Bradley and Gordon made their returns after their long-term injury issues. All in all, it was great to see the young bunch earn minutes at the biggest of stages, and more importantly, it was pleasing to see them perform so well even though Gilloise were comfortably on top of the group leaders for most parts of the game. The one pertaining issue that has seeped through to our youngsters from the first-team is the habit of conceding goals first [possible offside that the referees probably missed calling] which is certainly frustrating, to say the least. Congrats to Union SG for a well-deserved 2-1 win. Loads to learn for our youngsters though.
Here are our match ratings for Liverpool’s last UEL Group-stage game:
Caoimhin Kelleher – 5/10
Couldn’t have done any better for the first goal we conceded. Could have done so much better for the second one. Absolutely clueless about the third but luckily, a handball in build-up ruled that goal out. Continues to polarise opinions does the Irish shot-stopper. Understandably a tough night for the goalie considering the young backline he had. However, from a personal perspective, he could have done better in a lot of moments.
Conor Bradley – 6/10
Making a comeback to the starting lineup after a lengthy absence that felt like an eternity, Bradley faced a back injury in July, sidelining him until December and causing him to miss a total of 19 games during that period. Upon his return, Bradley delivered a decent performance, with no significant positive or negative highlights to note.
Ibrahima Konate – 6/10
Konate frequently advanced upfield, creating some gaps that Gilloise effectively capitalised on to score their second goal. While there wasn’t much Konate could have done to prevent it, this incident aside, he delivered an average performance. Looking ahead, there’s room for improvement, and Konate will need to step up his game in the upcoming matches with Matip ruled out due to injury. Replaced by Joe Gomez at half-time.
Jarell Quansah – 7/10
Undoubtedly Liverpool’s Player of the Match, showcasing exceptional skill and versatility. His standout moment came when he skillfully found space to score Liverpool’s first goal, delivering a powerful strike past the goalkeeper. Such clinical finishing from a centre-back is a rarity and added a unique dimension to the game. Quansah proved to be a dual threat for Gilloise, excelling both in set-pieces and defence. The 20-year-old’s defensive prowess was particularly outstanding.
Luke Chambers – 6/10
Chambers displayed some nerves in the early stages of the game, particularly during transitions. However, he gradually found his rhythm as the match progressed. Despite the initial jitters, the 19-year-old did nothing wrong, meeting the minimum expectations for a player making only his third appearance for the first team. Calum Scanlon replaced him after an hour’s worth of play.
Wataru Endo – 6/10
Wataru Endo did a decent job in the middle of the field for the Reds. His performance was okay, with nothing major going wrong. Overall, Endo played a part in controlling the game from the midfield. Came off for Ryan Gravenberch at the half-time mark.
Curtis Jones – 7/10
CJ played a crucial role by providing the assist for Quansah’s goal from a corner. While he encountered difficulties in dribbling on a few occasions, Jones delivered a generally solid performance with no notable issues. Yet to make the best use of his natural technique on the ball. Potentially among the best at the club, but absolutely no use if Jones doesn’t explore his potential to the best of his abilities.
Harvey Elliott – 6.5/10
His performance didn’t draw particular attention, but he executed his responsibilities as anticipated. Operating within the team’s expectations, Elliott stood reliable to stitch passes and link play-up throughout his time on the pitch.
Kaide Gordon – 6/10
Kaide Gordon marked his comeback to the Liverpool starting lineup, ending a nearly two-year absence caused by a 19-month spell on the sidelines due to a pelvic injury. Despite visible nerves, Gordon, as seen in the past, remains a promising player. The match served as a positive step in his return, and his potential continues to be a source of optimism for Liverpool fans.
Cody Gakpo – 6/10
Gakpo likely couldn’t have managed everything on his own. As possibly the only “senior player” in the frontline and with limited service, he had some constraints. Despite these challenges, he handled the situation decently well, doing what he could to contribute effectively.
Ben Doak – 5/10
Doak remained largely unnoticed for most of the game, primarily because Union SG did an excellent job of controlling the match. Despite the limited visibility, the Scotsman earned valuable playing time, contributing to his growth and experience on the field. Darwin Nunez replaced him in the 63rd minute.
Substitutions
Ryan Gravenberch- 6/10
A rather average performance, with the exception of a notable chance he took from the edge of the box towards the goal. Despite the overall average performance, Gravenberch put in efforts to help the Reds level, demonstrating a commendable work ethic. Overall, it’s hard to fault his commitment and contributions during the game.
Joe Gomez – 7/10
Joe Gomez showcased a masterclass performance today, proving why he stands out as the most experienced among the players who took the field. A top-class shift after coming on from the bench.
Darwin Nunez – 6/10
Scoring with top-class service is a rare sight for Darwin Nunez, considering his recent goal-scoring form. Given the youthfulness of the players around him, there weren’t many expectations for him to create opportunities. Jokes aside, today wasn’t ideal for Nunez, and there wasn’t much he could have done, except for an attempt to win a header, which was a bit beyond his reach.
Calum Scanlon – N/A
Not impactful enough to garner a rating.
James McConnell – N/A
Not impactful enough to garner a rating.
