Topic: Union Saint-Gilloise V Liverpool - Europa League - 17:45 14 December 2023

[RedG13]

Union Saint-Gilloise V Liverpool
UEFA Europa League Group Stage Matchday 6
Constant Vanden Stock Stadium(Lotto Park) Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium 17:45

Officials
Referee
Orel Grinfeeld ISR

Assistants refs
Roy Hassan ISR
Idan Yarkoni ISR

Fourth Official
Gal Leibovitz ISR

Video Assistant Referee
Ziv Alder ISR

Assistant Video Assistant Referee
Roi Reinshreiber ISR

Union Saint-Gilloise will host Liverpool at Anderlecht home stadium about 3.5 KM away from their home stadium of Joseph Marien Stadium with needing a Toulouse win or draw to stay in Europe, if Lask win, Union Saint-Gilloise will need to win and overcome the Goal Difference(Toulouse is at -2(with 6 Goal scores) and Union Saint-Gilloise is at -4(with 3 goals Scored)) to Stay in Europa league.

Union Saint-Gilloise are currently the Leaders of the Belgium league after finishing 3nd last season along with Quarterfinals run in the Europa league last season.
Union Saint-Gilloise has 11 first division titles which is the 3rd most titles of any team in Belgium however have not won the title since 1934-1935 and have just got back to the top flight of the Belgium League in 2021 after relegation in 1973. During the time out of the First Division, Union did fall to the 4th division, winning the 1983 4th division and would stay in the 3rd and 2nd division over that time frame. In the 2012-2013 would have been relegated back to the 4th division however another club was found guilty of irregular payments which allowed Union Saint-Gilloise to play in the relegation playoff which they won. Union would then get promoted back the 2nd division  after finishing 3rd in 2014-2015 season as both the clubs above them did not apply for 2nd division license. In March 2021 was promoted back to the Belgium First division after defeating local rivals R.W.D Molenbeek.
A big part of the success has been that Tony Bloom, Brighton and Hove Albion Chairman, became the Owner of Union Saint Gilloise in 2018 however in this past summer as Brighton also qualified the for the Europa league to comply with the UEFA Multiclub ownership rules, His coinvestor Alex Muzio moved to majority owner and Bloom to a Minority Union.

The Previous and only contest btw the two teams was a 2-0 Win for Liverpool with Gravenberch Debut goal and Jota goal in the 2nd Minute of stoppage time of the second half.

This will be Liverpool 3rd trip to Constant Vanden Stock Stadium with the two previous games, Liverpool came off winning the European Cup, 1978 European Super cup 1st League vs Anderlecht which ended 3-1 to Anderlecht win, then in 2005 group stage with a 1-0 win over Anderlecht. Also each time it been a different name for the stadium, it was Émile Versé Stadium before being rebuilt and named Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, in 2019 it got a sponsor name of Lotto Park.

So far it been an Enjoyable Europa league campaign for the Red Men with winning the group in the first 5 games with 4 Wins and 1 Loss along with being able to heavily rotate the squad, which has helped integrate summer signings and helping the young player get valuable games in European competition.
Now even with the Group won I would expect Jurgen Klopp to send out a heavily rotated squad that is capable of winning the game even with the likelihood that Key Players will get rested.

[tubby]

Jones surely starts this, he needs game time.  Bring him off on 60 minutes.

[DelTrotter]

Need the weakest team we can possibly field and Jurgen not even bothering to travel. As many kids as possible, if a sub first teamer has to fill in somewhere due to the lack of numbers then fine.

[BarryCrocker]

Need the weakest team we can possibly field and Jurgen not even bothering to travel. As many kids as possible, if a sub first teamer has to fill in somewhere due to the lack of numbers then fine.

Are you kidding? That would be very disrespectful to the players representing our club. He'll be there with a developing squad with the aim of getting a result and blooding the next generation of stars for this club.

[classycarra]

Whatever happens with the lineup, the important thing to remember is that literally noone is going to get whatever variation they'd like   i'm already ready to be worried about injuries and fatigue for whichever player i think needs to be saved for sunday

Jones surely starts this, he needs game time.  Bring him off on 60 minutes.

I guess it depends if there's a thought he starts at home at the weekend. If so, I think he might just take sub minutes (although 60 minutes works too, i guess, since he's not had the chance to put in the same hard yards as most others).

[Uncle Ronnie]

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Partridge Endo Gravenberch
Doak Rush Heighway

[classycarra]

Oh I forgot I saw a poster or two suggest that Endo is centre back cover - if we ever want a game to disabuse this, and let it never be spoken of again, this is the game for it. Would agree with Uncle Ronnie's above back 5, but want us to keep Gomez protected for other games.

Kelleher
Bradley Endo Quansah Chambers

Do we have any other centre backs who could come in from the reserves?

[disgraced cake]

Kelleher
Bradley   Endo   Quansah   Chambers
The Ghost of Thiago Alcantara   Clark   McConnell
Doak   Joe Gomez   Gordon

[Original]

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Partridge Endo Gravenberch
Doak Rush Heighway

Alan or Ritchie?

[Spanish Al]

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Partridge Endo Gravenberch
Doak Rush Heighway

Partridge is injured for this one.

[KurtVerbose]

Do we have to field a full 11?

[duvva 💅]

Partridge is injured for this one.

Fell out of pear tree

[gerrardisgod]

Kelleher, Bradley, Quansah, Jones, Elliott and Doak surely start. Then you fit in and around them, possibly Gomez or Endo depending on Macca’s availability at the weekend and you’d imagine the likes of Chambers, McConnell and Scanlon.

Doubt Gordon would be ready for a start, unfortunately, Clark I’m not sure is even back training too, which is a shame.

[Corbykop]

Do we have to use players that were in the submitted squad number of 25 I think it was? Which youngsters were in the named squad and have we got enough to rest first team regulars?

Also, other teams in the group will be wanting us to get a result so will JK put a totally weakened team out?

[Uncle Ronnie]

Alan or Ritchie?

Don’t think Alan is physically up to it after spending all his time on his lighthouse

[Zlen]

Please don't play a single first team player (or have them travel) Jurgen.
Pretty please.

[shank94]

Thanks for the OP!

My team:

Kelleher
Bradley Gomez Quansah Chambers
Gravenberch Endo Jones
Doak Gakpo Gordon

I am unsure if Gordon or Clarke are fit and if any other academy players have shone enough to warrant a game. Might see Scalon at LW if Gordon is not fit?

Endo starts if Mac will make United else play McConnell at DM, same with Gakpo if Jota is close. Elliot starts against United for me.

The team does look like a risk but i’d still give those guys minutes compared to the first eleven purely because things are going to dry down decently in 2 weeks. League cup would hit important semi final fixtures, EL not until March. No idea how our FA cup run will also fare with Arsenal being the first game, who seem to be able to play 10 first teamers each game. Obviously do not make the same mistake like Jota vs Atlanta.

Hopefully we get an update on the timelines of Jota, Robbo, Baj and Thiago in this one.

[keyop]

It's a dead rubber with no £3m prize money incentive for winning group games like in the CL. Plus we don't need any Jota/FC Midtjyland-type injuries again, and have much bigger fish to fry.

Respect for the competition and opponent goes out the window when we're top of the league and in with a good shout of at least 2 cups.

Kelleher, Quansah, Bradley, Chambers, Achterberg, Kornmayer, Krawietz, Ljinders, Doak, Gordon, Klopp

[Jakke]

Is going to be my fifth Liverpool game I am going to see live, and my oldest son's first.
So I hope some of the players at least travel and make the bench :-)

[shank94]

I also don't mind a hard fought loss just to see the post match reaction of that turd LASK manager when they knocked out of Europe all together.

[Bobinhood]

Klopp just doesn't have any time for a dead rubber. He'll mention the prize money, rhythm, sporting integrity and whatever else comes to mind. 

        Q

scanlon  q2 chambers bradley

        Endo  McConnell

doak     gravy    jones

              elliot


that is as fresh a team as we can field. Experimental to say the least. I'd like to see Dalglish and Rush at least on the bench for this in case we need something late

[SuperStevieNicol]

Kelleher

Bradley
Quansah
Gomez (c)
Chambers

Elliot
McConnell
Jones

Doak
Gapko
Scanlon

Get Gapko, Gomez, Elliott and Jones off after an hour. No Endo if MacAllister out of United game. Fill the bench with kids.

[jepovic]

Oh I forgot I saw a poster or two suggest that Endo is centre back cover - if we ever want a game to disabuse this, and let it never be spoken of again, this is the game for it. Would agree with Uncle Ronnie's above back 5, but want us to keep Gomez protected for other games.

Kelleher
Bradley Endo Quansah Chambers

Do we have any other centre backs who could come in from the reserves?

This is a stubborn myth. Endo played CB in Japan, not in Germany

[Red Beret]

I think a Premier League/Europa League double (or throw in the League Cup for a treble) would make for a nice, tidy season.

Jurgen's shown this competition a lot more respect than many on here anticipated. I don't expect that to change, regardless of the United game. We have such quality we can afford rotate heavily, but Jurgen won't want to sacrifice team cohesion either. You can have the best players on the planet, but you don't want them being strangers on the pitch.

Wonder if this game is too soon for Robbo? What are the training pics revealing?

[Crosby Nick]

Would love to get some minutes into Jota here. Test his resolve.

[MD1990]

Kelleher
Bradley--Gomez--Quansah----Chambers
-----Endo
Eliott-----Gravenberch
Doak---Gakpo----Jones

Bench
Adrian
Konate
Tsimikas
Gordon
Koumas
Scanlon McConnell
Fradendork
Musiaslowski

something like that. Team is actually not that bad. Get Gravenberch & jones off after 60 mins. Eliott too if he starts vs Man Utd

[newterp]

maybe Thiago and Bajcetic are ready for this one?

[kaesarsosei]

Of the "regular" first teamers, I think there is no problem considering the likes of Eliott, Jones, Gravenberch and Gakpo to start since for one reason or another (it at least feels like) they have played a lot less minutes than the rest plus of those Jones is the only one with any sort of regular injury history that I know of.

I'm incredibly nervous about our CBs and playing anyone. In fact there might even be an argument for playing VVD over Gomez or Konate since he has no record of picking up non-criminal assault injuries. We are one month-long injury to Gomez or Konate away from a crisis though. Quanseh is still an unknown quantity injury wise so he will probably play.

[Zlen]

Would love to get some minutes into Jota here. Test his resolve.

Fuck off Hodge.

[MonsLibpool]

Give the kids a run out.

[Ghost Town]

As it's a dead rubber might as well put out a fictional XI

Sly Stallone from
Escape to Victory
Pugh,     Pugh,      Barney McGrew,     Cuthbert,
Dibble,      Grubb,       Thiago
An Unbiased Ref      Al666      An Ev fan who genuinely

doesn't care what the Redshite say

[Too early for flapjacks?]

Can’t see Kaide Gordon starting considering the way he is being managed carefully. Shame we can’t play Jay Spearing as we are short of DMs options due to injuries. Don’t think Bobby Clark has been playing for the U21s recently so he must be injured.

I wouldn't start anyone who is going to line up against Utd on Sunday. Assuming the rumors are true and Mac Allister is struggling to make it, for me that would be Alisson, Trent, Tsimikas, Konate, van Djik, Endo, Jones, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz, Nunez.

Put together the best 11 from the players who are left and probably give Endo and Jones the second half off the bench in preparation for Sunday.


                               Kelleher


Bradley          Gomez          Quansah          Chambers


            Elliott          McConnell          Gravenberch


                Doak          Gakpo          Koumas


Subs bench that includes 5 senior outfield options and youngsters: Pitaluga, Jaros, Konate, Scanlon, Endo, Nyoni, Jones, Frauendorf, Musialowski, Gordon, Diaz, Nunez

Leave at home: Alisson, Trent, Tsimikas, van Djik, Szoboszlai, Salah

[redk84]

Hope we rest as many as possible...important week coming up!

Definitely Trent/VVD, hope they don't even travel

Whoever lines up for us hope they have some fun and gain experience

[blamski]

I get the urge to play kids and reserves seeing as we have Man Utd on Sunday, but there are two issues that should be considered. One - we'll stuff the mancs anyway. Two - out of respect for the competition and teams that still have something to play for, we should field a half decent team at least. By all means we can sub 5 of them off as the game goes on, but we should put out a decent starting 11 nonetheless.

[rawcusk8]

I get the urge to play kids and reserves seeing as we have Man Utd on Sunday, but there are two issues that should be considered. One - we'll stuff the mancs anyway. Two - out of respect for the competition and teams that still have something to play for, we should field a half decent team at least. By all means we can sub 5 of them off as the game goes on, but we should put out a decent starting 11 nonetheless.

Nah fuck that, we’ll respect the competition by going on to win it. We need to look after ourselves here, injuries are mounting and the games are coming thick and fast? Play the reserves, let them enjoy the experience and keep all the first teamers at home.

[TSC]

Pick the team by having a raffle among the travelling support. Those supporters whose numbers are drawn out and who are sober enough can start.

[Cafe De Paris]

I think sometimes Jurgen likes to put players in who he feels need game time or to I
Prove their rythem, even if they could be a starter on Sunday. Preferably I would play the reserves. There’s no money involved. We need to keep the hammer down in the league.

[Schmidt]

Yeah let's rotate as much as possible given that it's an away trip and we've already topped the group. The intensity of the schedule isn't letting up and current injuries mean playing some players more than we'd like. We can't really be complaining about early kick offs and schedules if we're spurning chances to rest players when they come.

[19th Nervous Title]

As it's a dead rubber might as well put out a fictional XI

Sly Stallone from
Escape to Victory
Pugh,     Pugh,      Barney McGrew,     Cuthbert,
Dibble,      Grubb,       Thiago
An Unbiased Ref      Al666      An Ev fan who genuinely

doesn't care what the Redshite say

Think Al is more used to defending. Other than that, why not.

[thaddeus]

If ever there was a game where defaulting to a 3-0 loss would be OK then this is it.  I know there's sporting integrity but it would just cancel out the VAR nonsense we had in Toulouse.

Normally I'd see it as a good chance to get fringe players extra minutes but our senior squad have all had plenty of minutes in the past few weeks.  I guess we start as many of the development players as we can and rotate the remaining spaces between the senior players.