In a disappointing turn of events, a spirited Liverpool squad faced a subdued loss against Union Saint-Gilloie, concluding the curtain on their Europa League group phase. Despite the defeat, Jurgen Klopp remains unfazed, as his team had previously clinched the top spot in the group and strategically implemented extensive rotations.

Klopp’s decision to rest several key players before a demanding schedule of three consecutive home matches within seven days—featuring clashes against Manchester United and Arsenal in the Premier League and West Ham United in the Carabao Cup—appears to be a wise move. The calculated decision is likely to bear fruit, as the players emerged from the Union Saint-Gilloie encounter unscathed, ensuring their readiness for the upcoming challenges.

Nevertheless, Liverpool’s woes persisted as they suffered a lackluster defeat, displaying a dreary performance on the field. The team failed to generate any meaningful offensive coordination and grappled to thwart the relentless onslaughts from the home side. Cody Gakpo, unable to deliver the anticipated talismanic performance, was left wanting in his quest to inspire a turnaround for Liverpool.

Cody Gakpo’s performance vs USG

In a somewhat sympathetic turn, it would be unjust to cast too much criticism on Gakpo, considering the limited support he received from his midfield and wide-positioned colleagues, despite his established status.

Nevertheless, the 23-year-old struggled to make his mark, remaining largely unnoticed and failing to find the necessary pockets of space to influence play or create attacking fluency for his teammates. According to Sofascore, the £120k-per-week dynamo’s performance included just one blocked shot, an unsuccessful attempted dribble, being dribbled past himself, and losing possession 12 times, all while managing only 38 touches throughout the evening.

As the impending Premier League clash against United approaches, Gakpo’s lackluster display raises doubts about his suitability for the focal front spot, especially with the erratic yet dynamic and determined Darwin Nunez in contention.

Despite Gakpo’s struggles, it’s essential to acknowledge the overall lack of service he received in this dead-rubber match, making it challenging to attribute all blame to his feet. The youthful Reds, as a collective, failed to click on the field, leaving the blame for the disappointing performance shared among the team.

Among the younger talents, few managed to make a positive impact, with right-back Conor Bradley notably failing to leave a favorable impression on Klopp after a challenging test.

Conor Bradley failed his big test vs USG

At the age of 20, Conor Bradley, a highly touted prospect on Merseyside, has been hindered in his season’s progression due to a back injury sustained back in pre-season, only recently making a return to match action.

Facing the formidable Mohamed Amoura, who impressed with a goal and an assist in a remarkable individual effort, Bradley endured a challenging test. Despite being dribbled past three times, he managed to win six of his 13 duels—a commendable feat. While losing possession 18 times, the Northern Irish starlet was actively involved, taking 74 touches and successfully completing two of his three dribbles, showing improvement in the second half.

Peter McVitie of GOAL expressed dissatisfaction with the young full-back’s performance, assigning him a 4/10 match rating and highlighting his struggles against the dynamic Amoura, who successfully completed all five of his dribbles. McVitie commented, “Beaten for pace one too many times as he pushed high up and reacted slowly as Saint-Gilloise attacked.”

While there might be valid points of criticism, it’s essential to consider Bradley’s return from injury, showcasing significant potential. He was thrust into a challenging role on a testing evening, reminiscent of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s style of moving into the midfield in possession.

Despite Liverpool’s loss, the primary focus isn’t on the result. Klopp’s side has reclaimed its position at the top, and the demanding test in Belgium provided the perfect stage for emerging talents to refine their skills.