Europa League group winners Liverpool lose in Belgium, Villarreal reach last 16

PARIS – Jurgen Klopp called it an “important experience” as his youthful Liverpool side lost 2-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise in their final Europa League group game on Dec 14, while Villarreal snatched a place in the last 16 from Rennes with a dramatic and controversial victory in France.

The Reds manager rang the changes with his team already secure as Group E winners and with an eye on the weekend’s English Premier League game against rivals Manchester United, starting six players aged 20 or younger.

He admitted that it was tough for his team to clinch a win but also saw the positives in their display.

“I think we definitely all saw the same game, so for us it was a deserved win for Union,” he said.

“They are well set up, they fielded a stronger side, I mixed up the team completely, so I think the changes we made, the amount of changes, were too much for rhythm.

“We needed to grow into the game. I am really happy that happened in the second half and that we gave it a proper game in the end. Before that, they won the balls on counter-attacks and it was really tricky, to be honest.”

Saint-Gilloise, who needed a victory to keep alive their hopes of pipping Toulouse to second place, took the lead through Mohamed Amoura before Jarell Quansah hit back for Liverpool.

Cameron Puertas restored the hosts’ advantage two minutes before half-time with a low strike which beat goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher at his near post.

Klopp threw on Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch and Darwin Nunez in the second half, but Saint-Gilloise held on for a famous win, although the Belgian side dropped into the Conference League play-off round after Toulouse beat LASK 2-1 to finish second.

“For some, it was a really important experience and for others, good for rhythm,” Klopp added.

“I saw good performances and, of course, as a team it is not a fair assessment as they are top of the table in Belgium and we come here, bring kids – so that’s really difficult.

“But I thought we gave it a go and that’s OK for me. Nobody got hurt, nobody is injured, so we recover, go home and go again.”

Elsewhere, Joao Pedro’s late goal earned Brighton & Hove Albion a dramatic 1-0 win over Marseille to secure the hosts top spot in Group B.

Both sides went into the final match day assured of a place in the next round but the Seagulls needed all three points to progress directly to the round of 16 as leaders.

Marseille will now go into the play-off round after finishing two points behind Brighton with 11.

West Ham United comfortably secured top spot in Group A with a 2-0 home victory against runners-up Freiburg, courtesy of first-half goals from Mohammed Kudus and Edson Alvarez.

In probably the most dramatic match of the day, Dani Parejo scored an 80th-minute winner as Villarreal took top spot in Group F and direct qualification for the last 16 with a 3-2 victory at Rennes.

Lorenz Assignon hammered home in the 12th minute of injury time to seemingly send Rennes back to the group summit, but his goal was ruled out by the video assistant referee and scuffles broke out after the final whistle.

Enzo le Fee’s free kick stuck the woodwork and rebounded back to the midfielder, who put the ball back into the box before Assignon slammed into the net.

Under one of football’s little-known rules, he was not allowed to be the first to touch the ball after he took the free kick.

The French Ligue 1 club only needed to avoid defeat to finish first, but instead will have to face a team dropping out of the Champions League in the play-off.

Jose Mourinho’s Roma also had to settle for a knockout play-off berth despite beating Sheriff Tiraspol 3-0 in Group G, as Slavia Prague thrashed Servette 4-0.

In the Europa Conference League, Premier League high-fliers Aston Villa qualified for the last 16 as Nicolo Zaniolo netted his first goal for the club in a 1-1 draw at Bosnia’s Zrinjski. AFP, REUTERS