Liverpool will visit Union SG in the Europa League on Thursday. Union SG still has a slim possibility of placing in the top two to reach the knockout stages. The Reds have already advanced to the round of 16 as group champions.
Preview (Union SG vs. Liverpool)
Union SG are participating in the Europa League for the first time. They can no longer control their chances of making it to the knockout stage. With five points from five games, Alexander Blessin’s team is in third place in Group E. To advance to the knockout stages, they will need to pull off a massive upset against Liverpool. They also need to hope that Toulouse loses to LASK Linz.
Union SG will advance to the Europa Conference League playoffs if they place third in the group. A fourth-place result will result in their elimination from Europe. Union SG has won all three of its domestic games since drawing Toulouse, with an overall record of 7-2. This includes last weekend’s 3-1 triumph over Charleroi on the road. It enabled Blessin’s team to take a six-point lead atop the Belgian Pro League.
After defeating LASK Linz 2-1 in October, the Brussels-based team is now attempting to win back-to-back Europa League home games for the first time. However, they have yet to defeat Liverpool. They have lost all three of their prior encounters with English opponents. It includes the September rematch at Anfield, where they were defeated 2-0. Liverpool easily defeated LASK Linz 4-0 at home on matchday five two weeks ago. Even though they lost 3-2 to Toulouse on matchday four, they have already booked their spot.
The Reds secured their fourth victory in Group E and their tenth consecutive victory at Anfield in all competitions this season thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz, and Cody Gakpo (2). With four points ahead of Toulouse in second place, the Reds are assured of winning the group. After triumphs over Fulham and Sheffield United in the Premier League, the team led by Jurgen Klopp began a winning streak of four games with their 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, which came via Harvey Elliott’s goal in the 91st minute.
Team News
Union SG is healthy ahead of Thursday’s meeting, but they will be without midfielder Charles Vanhoutte. He will serve a one-match ban after receiving too many yellow cards. Instead of Vanhoutte, Mathias Rasmussen may start alongside Cameron Puertas and Lazare Amani. They both began in the engine room during the first matchup with Liverpool. After scoring twice in the victory over Charleroi last weekend, top scorer Mohamed Amoura now has 13 goals in all competitions.
Regarding Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister is recovering from a knee injury he suffered against Sheffield United last week, so he is running out of time to arrange a reunion with his brother Kevin Mac Allister, who is anticipated to start in defense for Union SG. Five players who need additional time in the treatment room—Joel Matip (knee), Diogo Jota (muscle), Andrew Robertson (shoulder), Thiago Alcantara (hip), and Stefan Bajcetic (calf)—will undoubtedly miss action for the Reds.
The likes of Christian Kelleher, Joe Gomez, Ibrahim Konate, Curtis Jones,, and Ben Doak will be pushing to start for Klopp’s team, which has already guaranteed a spot in the round of sixteen. Meanwhile, star players like Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who scored his 200th goal for Liverpool against Crystal Palace last weekend, may rested in preparation for Sunday’s match against Manchester United.
Union SG 1 – 3 Liverpool
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