Ryan Gravenberch netted his first goal for Liverpool as they beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 in the Europa League.
The summer signing scored just before halftime, after Anthony Moris parried Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot.
That goal provided a spark in an otherwise dull first half at Anfield, with few chances.
Darwin Nunez wasted a good chance when he prodded wide from Mohamed Salah’s cross, while Gustaf Nilsson scored for the visitors from close range.
Moris pushed Gravenberch’s dipping effort behind just after the hour mark, denying him a second.
The Belgians applied late pressure, but Liverpool sealed the victory when Diogo Jota scored after a quick break.
Liverpool’s performance was not memorable, but after the video assistant referee controversy that followed Saturday’s Premier League defeat at Tottenham, it was a routine and incident-free win.
With six points from two games, Liverpool leads Group E.
“Job done,” said manager Jurgen Klopp.
“You cannot only win if you are really exciting. It is good for us as we can learn a lot from this game.
“With rhythm we look one way and without we look another. With exactly the same players. Plenty of things to learn and we will use that.”
Gravenberch, a 21-year-old Dutch midfielder, arrived from Bayern Munich but has had to wait for his chance to shine.
His Premier League appearances have been from the bench, with his two previous starts coming in the Europa League and League Cup.
Gravenberch, on the other hand, put in an all-action performance, making tackles, creating chances, and scoring the game’s first goal.
He has a goal and two assists in three starts, a performance that will likely push him closer to a starting spot in the Premier League.
“It’s great,” Gravenberch told TNT Sports. “It feels super good. It was the best goal of my career so far.
“It doesn’t matter [how it comes]. A goal is a goal.”
This was not a memorable match, and there was a collective sigh of relief around the stadium when Jota scored to avoid any late drama.
The game, however, will live on in the Mac Allister family’s memory.
Alexis, a Liverpool midfielder, came on at halftime, which meant he faced his brother Kevin, who started the game as a defender for Union SG for the first time in his career.
While Alexis claimed the bragging rights with Liverpool’s victory, Kevin put in a solid performance, helping to frustrate the hosts for long stretches.
“Today my dad was here, but I am sure everybody in our family was watching the TV, so it was special,” Alexis said.
“My dad played and knows what it means to play your brother as my uncle was too. I guess he cried a little bit.”
Kevin said: “He [Alexis] is the reason I suffer today but it is a very special moment.
“Liverpool in the last match come to Belgium. It is our revenge maybe, but today I am only thinking in this game with Alexis and my family and now it is the best part of the match.”
Photo by EPA/PETER POWELL
