Liverpool will play Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League on Thursday night at Anfield, two weeks after a first-ever matchup against LASK resulted in a win.
The growth of the Brussels club is astonishing. They were competing in the Belgian second division only three seasons ago, and as recently as 2015, they were playing at the third level of their home competition.
They were seconds away from winning the Belgian championship last season before Toby Alderweireld’s injury-time goal for Royal Antwerp secured victory. They were leading in the regular season standings in their first year back in the top division, ultimately finishing second.
We’ve highlighted some of the important players who Liverpool will need to be careful of tomorrow night along with some additional information about Alexander Blessin’s club because despite their swift rise, many names in the Union SG roster may still be unfamiliar to supporters on these shores.
notable Union Saint playersGilbertie Mohammed Amoura
With four goals in three games, the Algerian forward finished September on a high note. He scored in their 1-1 draw with Toulouse on matchday one and then destroyed Cercle Brugge and RWD Molenbeek at home (Transfermarkt).
The 23-year-old wasn’t a regular starter before the season began, but after a recent run of success, he has worked his way into the lineup. In the Jupiler Pro League, where he averages 3.6 shots per game (WhoScored), he is unafraid to take a shot on goal when the opportunity arises.
Cameron Pugh
The Spanish midfielder, who has also scored a few goals this season, is the center of Union’s offensive production. With three assists in his last two games, he helped set up two of the three goals they scored against Charleroi over the weekend (Transfermarkt).
The 25-year-old, who averages 3.9 shots, 1.8 key passes, and 1.2 crosses per game domestically (according to WhoScored), poses a serious threat in the last third. He will very certainly be involved in the most of the attacking action for the Belgian team.
Given that the Burnley-born center defense has just played 88 minutes this season, it may seem strange to identify him as a significant player, but Liverpool would be remiss if they ignored his threat from set pieces after he scored twice from them in last weekend’s 3-1 victory over Charleroi (Transfermarkt).
The 24-year-old former Accrington Stanley defender hasn’t wasted any time since making a comeback from a knee injury last month, and he’s no slouch when it comes to his primary defensive responsibilities either, having averaged a joint squad-high two interceptions per game in the league (WhoScored).
(Note: This section wouldn’t be complete without naming top scorer Dennis Ayensa, who is presently injured, or Kevin Mac Allister, brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis.
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