Trent Alexander-Arnold acknowledges Europa League sentiment, as Jurgen Klopp brushes off speculation about disgruntled Liverpool

The only replay Liverpool will be asking for this evening is the start of another lengthy unbeaten run – and a continuation of the solid beginning to their Europa League campaign.

The Reds are at home to Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise in a fixture that has been overshadowed by the ongoing fallout from their controversial VAR-affected Premier League defeat at Tottenham Hotspur last Saturday.

Easily forgotten amid the furore that followed is the fact Joel Matip's last-gasp own goal consigned Liverpool to their first defeat in 20 games, a proud run that extended back to early April.

And it was a debut loss for Jurgen Klopp's side since the tactical switch to a box-midfield that has unlocked greater creativity from Trent Alexander-Arnold and introduced a new dimension to the Reds' attacking play.dmp jordan 1

But the vice-captain takes a pragmatic view when asked about the setback. "As players we don't really concern ourselves with how many games we've gone unbeaten," says Alexander-Arnold. "We just want to win every game that is in front of us, and we start again with a big game.

"We can go and win that, we feel. That's where our focus is at. I think especially this early on in the season, you just want to lay foundations, winning foundations, get that winning feeling and get a good feeling around the place. It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish. But it's important to make sure you're in a position to finish well."

The 3-1 triumph at LASK a fortnight ago ensured a winning start to a group from which Liverpool are expected to qualify as winners, thus going straight through to the last 16 and avoiding the need for a play-off round in the New Year.air jordan 13 black and university blue

The Reds made 11 changes for the game in Austria with Klopp likely to again rotate his resources, although the domestic suspensions for Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota mean both are likely to start.

Alexander-Arnold – who made his return from the bench at Tottenham after missing the previous four games with a hamstring complaint – is another expected to make the starting line-up and could lead the team out should club captain Virgil van Dijk be rested.

And far from dismissing the Europa League, the defender regards it as a main aim for the campaign. "As players, as a team, we're not shy for what our ambitions are and what we want to do," he says. "We want to win trophies and we want to win the biggest trophies out there.

"We feel we've laid a good foundation. We're in a good position in the league table and still in the cup competitions, obviously got our first three points in this competition too, so we're in a good position. It's still early doors, we will be able to judge where we are. It's a good spirit and a good feeling around the place."

Union, who are top of the Belgium's Jupiler Pro League after nine games, opened their Europa League campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Toulouse. And Klopp is not underestimating the threat from a team helmed by German boss Alexander Blessin, who briefly faced off against the Liverpool manager during his playing days.

"We face a team who is flying in the league, is top of the table and is doing really well again after losing key players," says Klopp. "Unbeaten in Europe away for a long time. Super special what they are doing there and we have to be ready."

Klopp – who will be without the injured Cody Gakpo, who is likely to be on the sidelines for at least three weeks with the knee problem that forced him off at the weekend – has reiterated his call for Liverpool to embrace the positives of their fighting display when down to nine men at Tottenham, and adds: "It's not like we have empty hands, we didn't get points that's true, but all the rest we can use and that's what we will do. But not from a position of anger. That's not the mood we are in.

"For us it is much more important that I was really proud of the team and the team felt pretty good about it. That is what we have to use.

"It is a completely different game tomorrow night and I hope our people show the well deserved love after a really tough weekend. I am sure they will and I am really looking forward to a European night at Anfield."

There could be a family reunion on the pitch with Kevin Mac Allister, brother of Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, part of the Union squad having been signed in the summer from Argentinos Juniors.

"It's a big moment for Alexis, definitely," says Klopp. "They have another brother who is a professional footballer, and a cousin who is, so it's not the first time his family members have met on a pitch. But it's special.

"Brothers, huh – they love each other but have fights from time to time, at least that's how I learned it when I was young. I didn't have a brother but had two sisters and that was bad enough!"