Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise predictions: Raging Reds to run riot
- Union Saint-Gilloise have scored in each of their six Europa League away games
- Liverpool have scored three goals in each of their four home matches this term
- Recommended bet: Liverpool to win and over 3.5 goals
Liverpool felt hard done by in last weekend’s Premier League loss to Tottenham so Union Saint-Gilloise could not have picked a worse time to go to Anfield.
The Reds had made a great start to the season but Jurgen Klopp will now likely have his team fired up to show a strong response to that defeat at Spurs.
In a group in which there is not a huge amount between the three teams looking to finish second to the Reds, the hope for the Belgians and Group E rivals Toulouse and LASK would have been to catch Liverpool on an off-day or when their focus was elsewhere.
However, that seems unlikely given how the weekend’s drama has stirred the hosts, and a fully-focused Liverpool team is a formidable beast that could run riot among the Europa League also-rans.
Team news
Liverpool attacker Cody Gakpo left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a brace on his leg last weekend and looks likely to miss several weeks with a knee injury.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara is still a few weeks away from returning from a hip issue and Stefan Bajcetic has suffered a small setback as he closes in on a return from a calf problem.
Union SG are without injured leading goalscorer Dennis Eckert Ayensa.
The stats
Last weekend’s defeat was Liverpool’s first in 20 competitive matches, with the Reds winning seven on the trot prior to visiting Tottenham.
The Reds have scored three or more goals in seven of their last 10 competitive outings, and on two of the other three occasions that they failed to score three they were playing at a man or two disadvantage.
However, Klopp’s men have also conceded in eight of their nine games this term.
Union SG have an impressive away record in the Europa League, remaining unbeaten in six such matches since their first appearance in the group stage last term.
Les Unionistes won away at Braga, Malmo and Union Berlin in last season’s group stage and went on to draw 3-3 again in Berlin in the knockout stages before drawing 1-1 at Leverkusen as they bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Prediction
Union SG’s recent away results in the competition show they are a decent Europa League side but they face an absolute giant at this level.
And an angry giant at that, with Liverpool desperate to get straight back into the winning groove after the unfortunate events in north London.
The Reds had been hugely impressive prior to last weekend’s defeat, winning away at Newcastle despite playing for over an hour with 10 men and putting three past each of in-form pair Aston Villa and West Ham.
They were largely very good against Tottenham, too, holding firm with nine men until deep into injury time, and will be looking to prove that was merely a blip and get back on track in style.
However, a lack of clean sheets gives their visitors hope of at least contributing to the scoring.
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