Klopp will be pleased with progression, but not so much with the performance
All talk prior to the match against FC Sion was of how a draw of any kind would see the Reds progress top of the group and that’s exactly what Jurgen Klopp’s boy did on the night.
In the build up to the game, Sion manager Didier Tholot did his best to unsettle the away side, talking of a lack of focus (presumably because progression was already assured), claiming that Liverpool at home was the Swiss side’s ‘game of the year’.
As it turned out, Sion rarely had the ball and only made tentative attempts to take top spot themselves, having just 6 shots at goal (none on target) and only 35% of the possession.
By contrast, Liverpool dominated the ball, but did very little with it and had only 6 shots themselves in a game that was a fairly dull, cagey affair between two sides that needed simply to share the spoils to guarantee that both progressed.
Liverpool made a number of changes to the side that lost to Newcastle on Sunday, with the likes of Kolo Toure, Brad Smith and Jordan Henderson coming into the side, whilst Christian Benteke was confined to the bench after a poor showing at the weekend.
Despite topping the group, there was little of a positive nature to be taken from the game, other than the return to the squad of Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho, whilst Brad Smith had a fairly impressive runout in place of Alberto Moreno.
Are you pleased with the showing in the Europa League so far, or has another lethargic performance got you a little bit worried? Let us know your thoughts on the game in the comments.
