Union Saint-Gilloise vs Liverpool – Europa League: Live score, team news and updates as Belgians take first-half lead against Jurgen Klopp’s struggling youngsters alongside Zrinjski vs Aston Villa updates

A special moment for Jarell Quansah with his first Reds goal, and what a hit!

From a corner, Ibrahima Konate couldn’t reach the ball for a header. It fell at the feet of Jarell Quansah, who simply took a touch and smashed it home from inside the area.

The Union Saint-Gilloise frontman was played through and darted towards the onrushing Caoimhin Kelleher.

Trying to run past the goalkeeper, he has to be industrious as the custodian gets a hand to it while diving, but he rampages through and hits it into an empty net once past him.

Liverpool were carved open too easily there. Only Ibrahima Konate was anywhere near the runaway striker.

There was a VAR check for offside, but the goal was given.

Nice effort there from Jhon Duran but his effort is collected by the goalkeeper. Not much cuttng-edge so far from Unai Emery’s men, but plenty of desire.

Travelling Liverpool fans are certainly making themselves heard in the Belgian capital!

How have you assessed the first 30 minutes, Reds fans?

Aston Villa just had a corner and tried a low curling pass in the area for Nicolo Zaniolo to run onto, but a Zrinjski defender got there first. Could have been a really nicely worked move.

Not many chances so far!

The young centre-back got a bit over-excited in a tussle. He’s on eggshells for the rest of the night.

One thing is for certain – Liverpool’s young guns aren’t being given an easy ride!

Gustaf Nilsson outstrengthed Jareel Quansah to latch onto a through ball and was one-on-one with Liverpool’s goalkeeper.

But the Irishman was quick off his line to snuff out the threat and saved the day. Great goalkeeping!

Check this out!

We’re being treated to a glimpse of the future tonight as only Wataru Endo is above 25 years old!

Beautiful ball over the top from Conor Bradley, an incisive cross-field through ball in a Trent Alexander-Arnold style.

Cody Gakpo takes down the ball but can’t quite control it under pressure from the two centre-backs.

At the other end, Mohamed Amoura got close to Caoimhin Kelleher with a burst of pace but his effort went out for a corner.

Gregg Evans of The Athletic has hit the nail on the head here.

Liverpool’s youngsters have enormous potential but have so far ceded several opportunities to Union Sant-Gilloise, who are getting lots of joy down the right and left flanks.

On the ball, Liverpool are comfortable but haven’t carved out much yet.

After a series of blocks, Noah Sadiki found himself with the ball on the edge of the box and hit it first time, but dragged his low shot wide to the right of the goal.

Shaky start from Liverpool’s young charges!

Union Saint-Gilloise looked dangers there!

They broke from a Liverpool free-kick and hit the right flank, playing a ball into the middle which Ibrahima Konate didn’t deal with.

Conor Bradley had a test trying to stifle Lazare Amani on the right edge of the area.

The Belgians got a shot off but it was limp in the end.

Not much to shout about for Jurgen Klopp’s men so far.

They’ve dominated the ball but haven’t made any major inroads.

Nicolo Zaniolo just had a half-volley in the box after Aston Villa surged down the left, but he turned it over the bar.

Both of our games are underway!

TNT Sports claim that this could be the youngest-ever Liverpool side named in a first-class game!

We’ve just heard that some Villa fans have actually driven the full 1,300 mils to tonight’s game in a camper van for two days!

Big commitment, that!

It’s a big night for some of Liverpool’s youngsters to prove themselves!

Jurgen Klopp has named six players aho are aged 20 or under tonight. here’s what he told TNT Sports.

‘It’s really important that we can do these kind of things. tonight is a big opportunity. it’s a nice mix betwee experience and youth.

‘It’s about seeing opportunity, giving 100 per cent, and make sure you are ready to make mistakes and learn from that. I want to see cheeky moments!

‘It makes absolute sense that Curtis Jones leads this team. He’s the eldest of the youngest. He can be a role model for the kids.’

On Harvey Elliott: ‘He is obviously for us a really important player whether he starts or comes on. He will have his moments tonight.’

What an honour for academy graduate Curtis Jones.

The 22-year-old has been with the club since the age of nine and tonight he leads them out on the European stage.

Believe it or not, this is already his 111th appearances for the senior side. Is he a Kop hero in the making?

Make sure to follow our Merseyside football reporter Lewis Steele on X!

He’ll be bringing us his thoughts after the game tonight, right here on Mail Sport.

Goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Diogo Jota eased the Reds to a comfortale Anfield win ealrier in the season.

Check out the highlights from that game here.

Ex-Aston Villa manager Dean Smith, who took to club to the Premier League, has been unveiled as Charlotte FC’s new gaffer across the pond in the MLS.

Some eagle-eyed social media sleuths took a close look at his ‘contract’ with the club, which includes some rather wacky clauses.

READ MORE BELOW.

Here we see Harvey Elliott rocking up, as well as Calum Scanlon and Marcelo Pitaluga, who are on the bench.

You might think that if Aston Villa are in the top two of their group that they automatically get through to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, but that isn’t the case!

Yes, they’re through the group, but if they finish second behind Legia Warsaw, they will have a play-off against one of the Europa League drop-down teams who finished third in their group.

A point tonight will do.

Ben Doak has been described by Virgil van Dijk as a ‘Tasmanian Devil’.

Van Dijk had high praise for the 18-year-old: ‘He’s very exciting, very direct, one-on-one.’

And how about Jurgen Klopp? He said: ‘Ben is a special boy. He is really confident and has something nobody else delivers.’

He’s made four outings this season, but in case you’re not familiar with one of the club’s hottest prospects, here is Lewis Steele’s piece on him and some of the starlets set for minutes tonight.

Only an hour to go until kick-off, folks!

We heard enough in the summer that Moises Caicedo idolised Chelsea since a young age – there was that old picture of him sat in a car boot wearing a Blues kit alongside his mother.

Lots of Liverpool fans were gutted to miss out on the young midfielder, but… well, it hasn’t turned out too badly so far, has it?

It’s a fairly seasoned line-up from Aston Villa tonight with some big hitters including Douglas Luiz, Moussa Diaby, and a solid defence.

But young goalkeeper Filip Marschall is given a shot between the sticks with Robin Olsen unavailable.

Jacob Ramsey makes his first start since returning from injury.

Well, it IS a night for youth as we expected.

Harvey Elliott, Callum Chambers, Ben Doak, Kaide Gordon, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, and Curtis Jones – of varying levels of experience – are all given the nod.

Jurgen Klopp knows the importance of rotating his side, particularly with a match against Manchester United beckoning on Sunday.

Could this be a night for Ben Doak on the wing and Callum Chambers in left-back?

Maybe even a Kaide Gordon, the winger who has returned from 19 months in the injury underworld? He’s clearly got perseverance.

Jarell Quansah and Harvey Elliott, who are more established, will also fancy themselves.

Who do you want to see tonight, Reds fans?

Even Birmingham’s most ardent fans might envy views like this!

But Aston Villa would do well not to get caught up in the historic sights.

Zrinjski Mostar claimed a 4-3 win over AZ Alkmaar earlier in the group stages. Not a bad scalp.

Harvey Elliott does not want to be a mere super-sub under Jurgen Klopp!

The 20-year-old, who would be expected to start tonight, is aiming to establish himself as a more regular first-team player.

READ MORE BELOW.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s live blog of Thursday’s 5.45pm European action!

Tonight sees Liverpool visit Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League, though they’re playing at Anderlecht’s Lotto Park.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have an away day in Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing Zrinjski in the Europa Conference League.

Both English sides have already made it out of the groups, but it’s still sure to be a fascinating night!

We’ll have separate coverage of West Ham later.