Dropping into the Europa Conference League playoffs has never felt so good. Forget the names on the teamsheet, the youngest side to represent Liverpool in Europe still represented a monumental scalp to Union Saint-Gilloise and the Belgian Pro League leaders celebrated victory as though they had won, not exited, the Europa League. Jürgen Klopp’s raw side rarely threatened to spoil the party.
Union players leapt into the air and danced before their jubilant supporters after a deserved victory over a Liverpool team unrecognisable in appearance and performance. The group finale may have presented Klopp with an opportunity to rest weary limbs before Manchester United’s visit on Sunday but the hosts ensured the importance of the occasion – to everyone connected with Union at least – was lost on no one. They needed a win and Toulouse to lose at LASK to have any chance of staying in the competition. Only Union delivered on the deal.
