Union Saint-Gilloise, the youngest European team in Liverpool’s history, was defeated 2-1 in the Reds’ last Europa League group match.

On a difficult night for Jurgen Klopp’s young club, 20-year-old center-back Jarell Quansah scored his first goal as a senior. He is their 14th different scorer this season.

The club record for the 34th straight game with at least one goal was tied by Quansah’s strike in the 40th minute. After being left out, Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk, and Alisson Becker will all return on Sunday, and Manchester United will stand in the way of a new milestone.

Liverpool’s championship position was essentially assured even with a second defeat, but Union’s win sent them to the Europa Conference League play-offs.

The team’s average age was a meager 21.9 years, with Wataru Endo, 30, five years older than the next senior player. Ibrahima Konate and Cody Gakpo were the only two consistent starters.

The hosts posed an early danger, which should come as no surprise given that they have only lost once at home this season owing to errors from Koki Machida and Noah Sidiki.

In a rare assault, Gakpo chested down a crossfield pass from Conor Bradley inside the box, but Liverpool’s lack of experience with six players under 20 meant that rhythm and control were naturally an issue.

The first goal came from a pass thrown into the right channel, which was outran by Mohammed Amoura and Gustaf Nilsson, but Caoimhin Kelleher made some great saves.

Kelleher half-saved his first shot, then it looked as though Curtis Jones and Endo were fouled before Amoura broke away to score. Nevertheless, VAR concluded that there was an offside or insufficient in those challenges.

Quansah’s goal was skillfully executed; the defender finished off Jones’ corner to score and make up for the last-minute equalizer Toulouse’s 4-3 loss to him last month was disallowed by VAR.

There were concerns about Cameron Puertas’ placing when he beat Kelleher too easily at his right-hand post just before the break, as Union took the lead again.

Konate’s replacement was Joe Gomez; both will probably play on Sunday against Manchester United, but Quansah was the more impressive center back. Although Ryan Gravenberch took Endo’s place to further reduce the average age, the game’s flow remained unaffected.

Puertas beat Kelleher softly again, this time down to his left, until VAR nullified the goal for Lazare Amani’s handball. Klopp had already substituted Darwin Nunez and left defender Calum Scanlon, who is eighteen years old.

Even though Nilsson’s header went wide and Puertas forced another save, Liverpool’s second attempt of the game—which Anthony Moris saved first from Harvey Elliott and then from Gravenberch in the 78th minute—showed how little of an impact the visitors made.

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