Round-up: Liverpool edge Union Saint-Gilloise, West Ham overcome SC Freiburg in Germany as Rangers humbled in Cyprus
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Updated 05/10/2023 at 22:55 GMT
Ryan Gravenberch’s first goal for Liverpool helped his side to a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise in the UEFA Europa League. Meanwhile, West Ham United broke a new English record as they beat SC Freiburg 2-1 in Germany to extend their unbeaten streak in Europe to 17 games. Brighton fought back from two goals down to draw with Marseille, while Rangers were humbled by Aris Limassol in Cyprus.
Liverpool's Portuguese striker #20 Diogo Jota celebrates after scoring their second goal during the UEFA Europa League group E football match between Liverpool and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on October 5, 2023.
Image credit: Getty Images
Ryan Gravenberch scored his first goal for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp’s side beat Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 to make it two wins from two in the UEFA Europa League, while West Ham broke a new English record with a 2-1 victory over SC Freiburg.
Brighton & Hove Albion earned their first point in Europe, fighting back to earn a 2-2 draw with Marseille, but Steven Davis’ Rangers lost 2-1 to Aris Limassol in Cyprus.
In the UEFA Conference League, Aston Villa needed a stoppage-time winner from John McGinn to see off Zrinjski Mostar, of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1-0.
Aberdeen required a late Bojan Miovski goal to claim their first point in Group G as they fought back to draw 1-1 with HJK Helsinki.
Gravenberch off the mark for Liverpool
It was far from vintage but Liverpool were too strong for Belgian side Union SG.
Gravenberch pounced on a rebound after Anthony Moris spilled Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shot on the stroke of half-time.
The relief at Anfield was palpable after The Reds had come close on several occasions, most notably when Darwin Nunez had earlier missed a gilt-edged opportunity.
Diogo Jota settled any nerves with a second in stoppage-time, as Liverpool top Group E with a maximum six points from two games.
Toulouse remain on their coat-tails following the Ligue 1 side’s 1-0 win over LASK, with Gabriel Suzo scoring the game’s only goal.
Alexander Sorloth continued his rich vein of form as Villarreal got off the mark in Group F with a 1-0 triumph over Rennes, while Maccabi Haifa and Panathinaikos played out a goalless draw.
Record-breaking West Ham win in Freiburg
West Ham United remain top of Group A as they broke an English record with a 2-1 win over SC Freiburg.
The Hammers - who were without fans at Stade Europa-Park after objects were thrown from the stands in last year's final against Fiorentina - took the lead after just eight minutes courtesy of a fine Lucas Paqueta header from Jarrod Bowen's inviting cross.
Roland Sallai sparked scenes of euphoria when he grabbed an equaliser three minutes after the restart. West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made a superb double save but couldn't keep out Sallai's effort on the rebound.
But West Ham ensured they remain perfect in the competition when a corner from James Ward-Prowse - omitted from Gareth Southgate's latest England squad - was headed in by Nayef Aguerd in the 66th minute.
Last season's UEFA Europa Conference League winners West Ham are now 17 games unbeaten in Europe, setting a new English record.
In his post-match analysis, TNT Sports expert and former West Ham player Joe Cole paid tribute to Aguerd.
"He is a player, mark my words," Cole said.
"He can switch it, he’s a good defender. There were a lot of big clubs looking at him. He’s had a little bit of a rocky spell, but not a problem. It’s an unbelievable header."
Cole also believes that David Moyes' side have the potential to be the most dangerous team "in Europe" from set-pieces this season.
"I think West Ham will go and be the best team in Europe at set-pieces this year," he said.
"They’ve got all the ingredients, they attack the ball well, they’ve got goals. If I’m setting up a team against West Ham, I’d be struggling to find a way of stopping that kind of delivery and quality. West Ham are in a fantastic position."
Elsewhere in Group A, the 10 men of Olympiacos drew 2-2 with Backa Topola in Serbia.
Giorgos Masouras' header put the Greek side ahead in the 16th minute and former Wolves forward Daniel Podence put the visitors further clear.
Ifet Djakovac gave the hosts a way back into the game and after Olympiakos had Andreas Ndoj sent off, the hosts grabbed a 90th-minute leveller through Milos Pantovic.
Brighton fight back to draw in Marseille
Brighton fought back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Marseille in Group B at Stade Velodrome.
The Seagulls earned their first-ever European point thanks to an 88th-minute penalty by Joao Pedro.
After shipping six at Aston Villa at the weekend, Roberto de Zerbi's defence was breached twice within the opening 20 minutes in the south of France.
Defender Chancel Mbemba Mangulu opened the scoring when he swept in from a corner, and within 90 seconds Jordan Veretout had doubled their advantage, capitalising on a rare mistake by Lewis Dunk, just hours after he had been called up to the England squad.
Pascal Gross halved the deficit nine minutes into the second half with a shot from point-blank range, before Pedro levelled from the spot.
Although Brighton are bottom of the pool, they will have much to be encouraged by.
Ajax held in Athens
AEK Athens remain top of Group B as they earned a 1-1 draw with Ajax in Greece.
Former Tottenham forward Steven Bergwijn dispatched the penalty he won after half an hour, but Domagoj Vida's strike 16 minutes before the end ensured Athens earned a share of the spoils.
Rangers humbled in Cyprus
Rangers began life without Michael Beale, dismissed earlier in the week, with a 2-1 defeat to Aris Limassol in Group C.
The Scottish side, led by interim manager Steven Davis, were behind in Cyprus after just nine minutes owing to a fine header by Alex Moucketou-Moussounda.
The visitors thought they had an equaliser, only for VAR to intervene and disallow Cyriel Dessers' goal for offside.
Rangers' night went from bad to worse just shy of the hour-mark when Shavy Babicka made it 2-0.
Abdallah Sima gave the visitors hope with a powerful header with 20 minutes remaining but the visitors couldn't find an equaliser.
Isco nets late winner as Betis beat Sparta
Despite a 2-1 loss to Real Betis, Sparta Prague remain top of Group C.
Assane Diao became Betis' youngest player to score in the competition when the 18-year-old pounced on a mistake from Peter Vindahl Jensen to slot into an empty net after nine minutes and cancel out Veljko Birmancevic's third-minute opener.
And the Liga side won it with 11 minutes remaining thanks to Isco's fine header.
Two first-half goals enough for Atalanta in Portugal
Atalanta made it two wins from two in Group D with a 2-1 win over Sporting.
Teenage centre-back Giorgio Scalvini completed a fine team move to give the Serie A side a 33rd-minute lead before Matteo Ruggeri made it two on the stroke of half-time with his first goal for his boyhood club.
Ex-Coventry striker Viktor Gyokeres' 76th-minute penalty for the hosts proved to be in vain.
In the other game in Group D, SK Sturm Graz recorded a 1-0 win over Rakow Czestochowa, with a first-half William Boving goal proving the difference.
Lukaku on target as Roma thrash Servette
In Group G, Romelu Lukaku scored his fifth goal of the season as Roma cruised past Servette with a 4-0 scoreline in Group G.
Lukaku’s scrappy finish gave the hosts a 21st-minute lead before three quick-fire goals after the restart put paid to Servette’s resistance.
Andrea Belotti helped himself to a brace either side of Lorenzo Pellegrini’s goal.
Slavia Prague remain top of Group G after they put on a show in front of the home supporters with a 6-0 win over Sheriff Tiraspol.
The hosts stunned Sheriff with a quick-fire double, Mojmir Chytil opened the scoring in the fourth-minute and Igoh Ogbu adding a second three minutes later, before Munashe Garananga’s own-goal made it 3-0 before the break.
The goals continued to flow just two minutes after the restart as Ivan Schranz got on the scoresheet. David Doudera and Chytil - with his second - wrapped up the scoring.
Bayer Leverkusen triumph in Norway
Bayer Leverkusen maintained their place at the top of Group H with a 2-1 win over Molde.
Jeremie Frimpong, once of Celtic, capitalised on a mistake in defence to open the scoring in the 14th-minute and, just four minutes later, Nathan Tella made it 2-0.
The Norwegian hosts threatened a comeback when Emil Breivik scored three minutes from time, but Xabi Alonso's side held on.
The Bundesliga side have six points, above Qarabag on goal difference after the Azerbaijan side overcame Hacken 1-0 courtesy of Juninho’s 70th-minute goal.
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