Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise tips and predictions: Rotated Reds to navigate banana skin at Anfield
- Robbie Savage
- 4 October 2023
Planet Sport Bet ambassador Robbie Savage thinks Liverpool should see off Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
Liverpool are in fine form. People say that Liverpool will be Manchester City’s biggest challengers, I can see why they’re saying that.
They lost at the weekend against Spurs in that controversial game but I think not enough credit is being paid to what the recruitment department and Jurgen Klopp are doing at Liverpool.
Look at the way they’ve changed that team, look at the way they’ve changed that midfield.
The recruitment has been great, they’ve added more energy to the side and I think they’re going to have a really good season.
Liverpool’s record against Belgian teams has been fantastic. Fifteen times they’ve played and they’ve only lost once, that was back in 1978 when they played against Anderlecht.
I think Liverpool to win and I’m going Liverpool three, Royale Union nil.
Robbie’s Tip: Liverpool 3-0 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise
Liverpool vs Union Saint-Gilloise team news
Cody Gakpo could miss out after injuring himself while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.
Thiago Alcantara has suffered a setback in his recovery, but Trent Alexander-Arnold will be back in the squad.
Jurgen Klopp could opt to rotate again with the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohammed Salah being kept in reserve.
Dennis Eckhart is the only absentee for the visitors.
Key stats
- Liverpool’s last Europa League appearance at Anfield was a 3-1 loss against Sevilla in 2016.
- Since March 2022, Real Madrid and Leeds are the only teams to win at Anfield.
- Liverpool have lost just four of 40 home matches in this competition.
- Union Saint-Gilloise are unbeaten in all seven of their Europa League away games.
Planet Sport’s other bets to consider
Liverpool are looking to bounce back from their first defeat of the season as Jurgen Klopp rings the changes at Anfield.
VAR controversy denied the Reds a just lead at Tottenham, which would have altered the face of the game before Joel Matip smashed into his own net with seconds left.
Liverpool have started the season in superb form, winning seven of eight and scoring three in six of those matches.
This game looks like a real banana skin given Union’s stubborn away form in the competition last year.
The Belgian side drew 1-1 away to Eintracht Frankfurt in last season’s knockout phase and have already claimed two wins and a draw this season.
The Reds need to learn from their dicey experience against LASK, although Klopp will rotate his squad again and still expect to find ways through.
However, the absence of visitor's topscorer Eckhart coupled with the departure of Victor Boniface is enough to make you question if Union can score here.
