Analysis from Ian Doyle after Liverpool's 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League
It would be pushing matters somewhat to suggest the Europa League would ever act as an audition for a Premier League starring role for Liverpool.
The substitution of the Japan international was one of a raft of pre-planned changes that also saw Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez depart. And beyond dispute is the former Stuttgart man offers a defensive mindset none of the other senior midfield options possess, which would surely make him vital against the free-scoring Seagulls at a venue where the Reds were beaten twice last season.One of the more intriguing sub-plots of the opening months of Liverpool’s campaign has been the scrap for a starting place in the centre of defence.
It’s why the Cameroonian has been rested for cup games this season, and was again on the bench as Konate started his third such game in succession, the most recent two alongside the inexperienced but unflappable Jarell Quansah, who again quietly impressed here. From the relative lack of pre-match buzz – save the noise from the buoyant travelling support – and the pre-match anthem, this smelt and felt like a Europa League evening.
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