Match reportGravenberch and Jota net to give Liverpool Europa League victory over Union SG
Liverpool made it two wins from two in the Europa League by defeating Union SG 2-0 at Anfield on Thursday evening.
Ryan Gravenberch got his first goal for the Reds in the 44th minute to open the scoring in the Group E contest.
The three points were then clinched against the opponents from Belgium in second-half stoppage time when Diogo Jota ran through and converted.
Team news
Trent Alexander-Arnold made his first start since returning from injury as one of nine changes to Jürgen Klopp's starting XI.
Alisson Becker and Mohamed Salah were the only players to remain following the defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.
Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Gomez, 62), Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas, Endo (Mac Allister, 46), Gravenberch (Szoboszlai, 78), Elliott, Jota, Salah (Jones, 46), Nunez (Diaz, 46).
Unused subs: Jaros, Mrozek, Van Dijk, Robertson, Matip, Chambers, Doak.
First half
Early pressure from Liverpool forced visiting goalkeeper Anthony Moris into a pair of excellent saves.
The first came when Jarell Quansah's tackle around the centre-circle ricocheted and sent Salah through on goal, with the No.11's resulting finish diverted for a corner.
Moris then batted away Gravenberch's powerful hit from around 20 yards out; Darwin Nunez followed up and converted the rebound but did so from an offside position.
The Reds' next opportunity fell to Nunez in minute 16 but he was off target when squared to by Salah in a slick move starting with a Harvey Elliott drive forward.
Union SG's first real chance of the night fell to striker Gustaf Nilsson, who headed over from close range off a free-kick near the right touchline.
Nunez forced Moris into another intervention but the hosts would eventually find a breakthrough on the stroke of half-time.
A blistering restart from Alisson after a foul occurred during a Union SG corner ended with Alexander-Arnold attempting to curl one into the far corner at the other end. Moris got down to deal with it but Gravenberch was in the right position inside the six-yard box to nudge home the loose ball and open his account for the club.
Alert defending from Ibrahima Konate ensured Liverpool were ahead at the break, the centre-half beating Mohamed Amoura to the ball after the forward had poked past Alisson and looked to tap into an empty net.
Second half
The second period opened up with Quansah clearing the danger after Alisson's failed punch at a corner.
At the other end, Moris did brilliantly to tip over a Jota header and curler from Gravenberch.
Union SG increased their ventures forward in search of a leveller but the Reds always carried their own attacking threat.
Konate launched a ball over the top that found Luis Diaz inside the box. Although the flag later went up for offside, the No.7 got a shot away at goal that struck the post and bounced clear.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones drilled shots wide from distance in quick succession before the clincher arrived in added time.
A breakaway saw Diaz help shift the ball into Jota's path and the Portugal international proceeded to drive into the box and drag a finish into the far corner.
Attendance: 49,513
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