Liverpool had their 19-match unbeaten streak end at the hands of Tottenham in a controversial match. Now the Reds look to start a new streak when they face Union SG in the next Europa League group match today, October 5th at Anfield.
Shorthanded Reds
Liverpool will not have the services of Cody Gakpo as he was injured just before scoring a goal on Saturday. Diogo Jota and Curtis Jones have to serve Red Card suspensions in the Premier League, but they should be available for this match as Liverpool look to grab all 6 points in their first two Europa League matches and stay atop the group.
The State Of The Union (SG)
Union SG are playing good football in the Belgian first division, sitting atop the league standings. They have 19 points and are unbeaten in their last four matches across all competitions. They are led by a German striker Dennis Eckert with 5 goals in 9 matches. Swedish midfielder Gustaf Nilsson is second on the club with 3 goals.
Sibling Rivalry
This may be the first time Liverpool and Union SG have met on the pitch, but at least two players are very familiar with one another. That's because Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Union SG centre back Kevin Mac Allister are brothers. The two exchanged light-hearted barbs on a video posted to the official Liverpool website.
“I remember one of the guys on the Liverpool staff told me we were playing each other,” Alexis said.
“Playing against my brother is special, but so is playing at Anfield,” Kevin added. “I can listen to You'll Never Walk Alone, all of that will be incredible for me.”
It was Alexis who gave a parting shot though.
“After the game, we can speak. But hopefully you don't enjoy it!,” he said with a laugh.
LFC Globe Verdict
Aside from the Mac Allister brothers, this match has many other interesting subplots. Will Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota play in order to stay sharp while they are serving their EPL Red Card suspensions? Can Liverpool rebound after their first loss of the season? I think the answer to both of those questions is yes as the Reds take a 3-1 win.
Where To Watch
Kickoff is set for 20:00 BST and will be broadcast on TNT Sports. Supporters in the USA will have two different viewing options as a Spanish-language broadcast will be available on TUDN and an English version can be streamed via Paramount+. Canadian viewers can stream the action via fuboTV.
A full list of streaming options is available by visiting LFC Globe's Live Streams page.