Ryan Gravenberch: The Next Premier League Sensation for Liverpool?
Europa League and Conference League recaps: Gravenberch's Premier League opportunity, Lamptey's standout performance, Ward-Prowse shines despite England snub Rangers struggle, Villa's patient journey to Europe, and Dons' ambitious quest for European upsets
Time for 'top bloke' Gravenberch to get PL chance?
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Ryan Gravenberch has only come off the bench in the Premier League
Ryan Gravenberch shone amidst a lackluster evening of Europa League football at Anfield on Thursday, garnering a well-deserved standing ovation. The midfielder's promising start to his Liverpool career is evident, with a goal and two assists, further affirming Jurgen Klopp's high regard for him as a "remarkable individual."
Gravenberch faced a lack of playing time during his stint at Bayern Munich. However, this issue has been resolved since joining Merseyside. Despite that, he has not yet been given the opportunity to start a Premier League match.
Considering the circumstances, it seems evident that Klopp's intention for the 21-year-old is to grant him his first Premier League start. Following his impressive display against Union on Thursday, he may very well be in contention for the upcoming match against Brighton on Sunday, which will be broadcast live on We.
Curtis Jones' suspension and the injury to Cody Gakpo means Gravenberch could get his chance this weekend.Zinny Boswell
Lamptey rises to the occasion
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Brighton's Tariq Lamptey showcased his talent as a left-back.
Brighton is gaining valuable experience in European competitions, adapting to handle intense environments like one of the most notoriously hostile stadiums on the continent.
Roberto De Zerbi's team showcased resilience after falling behind 2-0 within the first 20 minutes, resurrecting their Europa League aspirations. Out of the two managers, the Italian tactician can be considered more content. Gennaro Gattuso, the recent appointment as Marseille's head coach with a strong association with European competitions, couldn't hide his disappointment as two points slipped away. To be fair, a draw was a reasonable outcome.
The famous Velodrome, known for its noise and flares, was partially closed when Tottenham played here last November due to crowd trouble between the home side and Eintracht Frankfurt supporters. However, despite their travel issues at Marseille Airport, the 3,000 Brighton fans are returning home with encouragement that their European adventure may continue into the new year. Tariq Lamptey, like Dunk, recovered from the early defensive scrutiny and performed well at left-back in the absence of Pervis Estupinan. Estupinan is expected to be out for at least a month, but based on this performance, De Zerbi can confidently rely on his replacement in the upcoming challenging matches against Liverpool and Manchester City.
Ward-Prowse impresses again after England snub
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West Ham's midfielder, James Ward-Prowse, delivered an exceptional response shortly after his exclusion from the England squad. The 28-year-old showcased his renowned set-piece skills by providing a pinpoint delivery, resulting in Nayef Aguerd's header for the winning goal in the second half. This victory extended West Ham's unbeaten streak in European matches to a record-breaking 17 games, as they triumphed 2-1 over Freiburg.
Ward-Prowse's impressive corner assist brings his total to eight goal involvements in eight games since his move to the Irons from Southampton for a modest fee of £30m. This price tag is proving to be a true bargain in today's inflated market. Despite his impressive record of six assists and two goals in all competitions, it appears that England manager Gareth Southgate has chosen not to include Ward-Prowse in the squad for this month's matches against Australia and Italy.
Ward-Prowse appears to be unfairly treated, as Henderson and the struggling Phillips are consistently chosen ahead of him, despite Henderson playing in Saudi Arabia for his club. However, Ward-Prowse can focus on maintaining his superb form at his current club, in the hopes of eventually impressing Southgate and securing a spot in the European Championships next year.
Rudderless Rangers need direction now
A trip to Cyprus in 30-degree heat seemed like a timely boost for Rangers supporters - instead their club crisis deepened.
The defeat to the fifth-ranked team in the Cypriot First Division was undeniably humbling, leaving more questions than answers.
Following the departure of Michael Beale, Steven Davis unsuccessfully took charge and witnessed a performance lacking both quality and creativity.
The game seemed closer than it actually was, with a 2-1 scoreline. The Rangers defence was exhausted as the midfield repeatedly got caught off guard on the counter-attack.
There is a belief that the club has been preparing for life after Beale for several months, implementing a succession-planning process with a variety of evolving options. It will have to surpass their player recruitment efforts.
Patience pays off as McGinn helps Villa arrive in Europe
A new appointment should not be expected until after Sunday's game against St Mirren, which will be broadcasted live on We. However, the club's priority is to identify a suitable long-term candidate. Nevertheless, the need for a replacement has become more urgent than anticipated.
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John McGinn once again became the hero at Villa Park, rescuing Aston Villa from potential humiliation with a late winning goal. The team struggled to secure a lackluster 1-0 victory, marking their first triumph in the European group stage since their victorious match against Slavia Prague in November 2008.
Villa huffed and puffed, but finally managed to blow down the Zrinjski house. The Bosnian defence held strong throughout the match, but in the last two minutes of stoppage time, Bertrand Traore and Matty Cash combined skillfully on the right side, allowing McGinn to score a late goal.
Villa Park, which had previously been restless, suddenly erupted with relentless cheers. The famous old stadium, hosting its first significant European game in over 14 years, echoed with chants of 'Super John McGinn'.
McGinn expressed the importance of winning the match, stating that although a draw would have been acceptable, their improved performance in the second half and the goal in the end brought them great relief. It wasn't just Unai Emery who had a successful start at Villa Park that night. Krunoslav Rendulic, the coach of Zrinjski, had also made a significant impact in his first year, leading the team to a 14-game winning streak and winning both the league and cup.
Dons daring to cause Europe shock
Their determination was evident for the entire duration of the match, and with all four teams in Group E now tied on three points, this thrilling last-minute triumph could potentially be a pivotal moment in Villa's quest to reach the knockout stages.
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Aberdeen striker Bojan Miovski celebrates after equalising against HJK Helsinki
Aberdeen may rue not taking three points against HJK Helsinki but they are proving their worth on the European stage.
Bojan Miovski's late header skillfully secured the Dons' first goal in Group G, reaffirming their rightful victory in the game.
Manager Barry Robson concurred, stating, "It's clear, everyone witnessed it. The goal we conceded disappoints me. They had only one shot on goal. We should have scored a few more, displayed greater precision. If we had done so, we could have emerged victorious by a margin of three or four."
Aberdeen momentarily shocked Eintracht Frankfurt in the group's opening game by scoring an equalizer in the Waldstadion but ultimately lost 2-1. To advance to the knockout stages, they must maintain their fearless approach.
