Liverpool are eager to bounce back in the Europa League against Union Saint-Gilloise, especially after the contentious loss to Tottenham that’s still causing a stir in the English football community.
Jurgen Klopp’s transformed team experienced their first defeat of the season last Saturday. The game’s outcome was marred by late drama, as Liverpool, down to nine players, saw a goal from Luis Diaz controversially disallowed.
The VAR decision during the Diaz situation has been the hot topic leading up to this game, overshadowing Liverpool’s commendable performance despite having two players sent off.
After a letdown last season, Klopp’s squad is back in form and appears poised for a title run, especially with its restructured midfield.
While the absence from Champions League play was a blow for the Liverpool faithful, the Europa League offers Klopp an opportunity to mix up his lineup and showcase emerging talents, like Ben Doak.
In their first group match, Liverpool overturned a deficit to defeat LASK Linz 3-1, with Mo Salah sealing the victory. Now, they face a Union Saint-Gilloise team that’s been enjoying their newfound European football success, notably after their notable ascent in Belgium.
Union touched European football last season for the first time since the ’60s. They narrowly missed out against Rangers in the Champions League qualifiers but found success in the Europa League. Their journey went up to the quarter-finals before Bayer Leverkusen halted them. Now, they’re looking to advance further.
Managed by Alexander Blessin, the Belgian team has some ground to cover after a draw against Toulouse in their opening game. However, they’re in a groove with three consecutive wins in their domestic league, positioning them at the pinnacle.
Predictably, Liverpool are the clear favourites with odds of 1/4.
After the exhausting game at Tottenham, Klopp might bring in fresh legs. Ben Doak, the promising Scottish winger, might feature after his debut against LASK. With odds of 3/1 anytime for a goal, he’s a player to watch. For Union, Mohammed Amoura, with four goals in his last four games, stands out. He’s 9/1 at to score, an enticing prospect, especially if Klopp makes significant changes.
