Match reportLiverpool finish Europa League group stage with defeat at Union SG

Jürgen Klopp's men, who had already qualified for the Round of 16 ahead of matchday six, were downed by goals from Mohammed Amoura and Cameron Puertas in the first half at Lotto Park.

Jarell Quansah scored his first goal for the Reds to equalise after the opener from Amoura but Puertas' finish clinched the three points for the Belgian Pro League leaders, though it was not enough to see them pip Toulouse to second place in the group.

Team news

Kaide Gordon was one of nine changes Klopp made to his line-up, the 19-year-old making his first senior appearance since January 2022.

Fellow Academy products Conor Bradley and Luke Chambers were also handed starts.

Kelleher, Endo (Gravenberch, 46), Konate (Gomez, 46), Jones, Gakpo, Elliott, Chambers (Scanlon, 63), Gordon (McConnell, 75), Doak (Nunez, 63), Quansah, Bradley.

Unused subs: Pitaluga, Mrozek, Diaz, Szoboszlai, Tsimikas, Koumas, Hill.

First half

Liverpool would have to absorb several Union attacks throughout the opening 45 minutes.

After Lazare Amani had a penalty appeal turned down, Puertas and Noah Sadiki dragged shots wide of Caoimhin Kelleher's right post in quick succession.

Kelleher was then called into action for the home side's next pair of opportunities. First he pushed behind Amoura's curler from a tight angle and then used his legs to keep out the finish from Gustaf Nilsson in a one-on-one situation.

The pressure would finally tell, however, just past the half-hour mark – with the opener sparking a frantic finish to the first half.

Amoura successfully evaded the offside trap to meet Nilsson's ball in behind and drove towards Kelleher. The goalkeeper managed to get a hand to the ball as he looked to stop Amoura from rounding him, though the rebound fell kindly to the attacker and left him with the simplest of finishes.

The Reds would respond seven minutes later as Quansah opened his account with the touch and finish of a striker in his prime. The centre-half expertly cushioned Curtis Jones' floated corner before lacing the ball beyond Anthony Moris.

But Union rallied so they could hold a lead at the interval. Amoura received possession on the left touchline and squared a pass to the advancing Puertas, who unleashed a quick hit that squeezed in at the near post.

Second half

Union, still believing in their odds to remain in the competition, remained on top.

They thought they had gone 3-1 up in minute 62 when Puertas curled in a finish from the edge of the box – but VAR later disallowed the goal for handball in the build-up.

More chances came their way but Nilsson was off target with a header inside the box and Kelleher did well to push away Amoura's outside-of-the-boot effort.

At the other end, substitute Ryan Gravenberch fired towards goal from distance that required action from Moris, and that was quickly followed by Darwin Nunez being inches away from getting on the end of Harvey Elliott's ball across the box.

After some desperate defending late on, Union held on to the result that helped seal a third-placed finish, which transfers them to the Europa Conference League.