Union SG 2-1 Liverpool: Reds stunned but still go through as group winners

Already-qualified Liverpool ended their Europa League group campaign with an away defeat in Belgium against Union Saint-Gilloise.

Jurgen Klopp's youthful Reds side fell behind in the 32nd minute when Mohamed Amoura scored after taking the ball around goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

Twenty-year-old centre-half Jarell Quansah equalised with a powerful effort from inside the penalty area for his first Liverpool goal.

But the hosts regained the lead just before half-time thanks to Cameron Puertas' low strike, which proved to be the winner.

Puertas thought he had scored again with another well-struck shot but the goal was disallowed for handball following a video assistant referee check.

Despite the loss, Liverpool win Group E with 12 points from their six games, while Belgian league leaders Union Saint-Gilloise finished third to drop down into the Europa Conference League play-offs, in February.

Premier League leaders Liverpool will not play another European fixture until the last 16 in March and can focus on other competitions.

They now have three vital home games - Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, West Ham in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday and then Arsenal in the league on 23 December.

Match Events

16' Mohamed Amoura's shot wide out

20' CLOSE! Kelleherk denies Nilsson’s effort

23' Yellow Card! Conor Bradley booked

32' GOAL! Union Saint-Gilloise 1-0 Liverpool (Mohamed Amoura)

39' GOAL! Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 Liverpool (Jarell Quansah)

43' GOAL! Union Saint-Gilloise 2-1 Liverpool (Cameron Puertas)

53' Yellow Card! Noah Sadiki booked

63' Handball! Cameron Puertas’ goal disallowed

88' Great save from Kelleher

Line-ups

Union Saint-Gilloise XI: Anthony Moris, Christian Burgess, Gustaf Nilsson, Alessio Castro-Montes, Koki Machida, Kevin Mac Allister, Lazare Amani, Loïc Lapoussin, Cameron Puertas, Mohamed Amoura, Noah Sadiki

Subs: Dennis Eckert Ayensa, Mathias Rasmussen, Ross Sykes, Joachim Imbrechts, Henok Teklab, Maxime Wenssens, Casper Terho, Fedde Leysen, Kevin Rodríguez, Nathan Huygevelde

Liverpool XI: W. Endo, Kelleher, Konate, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones, Elliott, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Kaide Gordon, Luke Chambers, Ben Doak

Subs: Joe Gomez, Tsimikas, Dominik Szoboszlai, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Marcelo Pitaluga, Gravenberch, Tom Hill, Fabian Mrozek, Calum Scanlon, James McConnell, Lewis Koumas