Liverpool-Sion Verdict: Reds Miss Statement Chance In Europa League Draw

That Liverpool’s second UEFA Europa League game against FC Sion promised little and delivered less shouldn’t be a cause for great concern.

Liverpool and Sion played to a goal-less draw on Thursday at The Tourbillon Stadium in Switzerland, confirming themselves as first- and second-placed finishers in Group B. Since both sides have advanced to the Round of 32, they’ll gladly accept the point, which allows them to proclaim “mission accomplished” at the end of pool play in European soccer’s second-tier competition.

The icy field was the game’s third, and perhaps most important, protagonist, as the conditions reduced the likelihood of the teams playing expansive or flowing soccer.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed his team’s attitude as the biggest positive, saying afterward the way the Reds fought together on the choppy turf pleased him. He couched his praise within an admission Liverpool failed to play up to its ability.

Comebacks also dominated the Liverpool-Sion storylines, as Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Rossiter successfully returned from short- and long-term injuries without setbacks. Jordan Henderson played 77 minutes in his first start since August. Coutinho played around 30 minutes, and Rossiter’s outing lasted about half as long as the Brazilian’s.

And then there’s Brad Smith, who impressed in his full debut for Liverpool. Smith helped the Reds secure a shutout as a left back and did more in search of the goal that never came than most, if not all, of his teammates. Smith has emerged in the last eight days as one of the leaders of Liverpool’s brigade of young, home-grown squad players. He surely won’t have to wait long before he makes his Premier League debut.

Liverpool is working to restore its European pedigree after a few years in the wilderness and last season’s Champions League disaster. An emphatic win at Sion would have allowed Liverpool to check off some statistical boxes — goals, winning streaks and prowess on the road — that it hasn’t marked in five-plus seasons, but this fall wasn’t the time for such an announcement.

The Reds can demonstrate their ongoing rise to the continent when the knockout phase kicks off in February. They’ll learn their fate Monday when UEFA conducts the draw for the Rounds of 32 and 16. Liverpool must tend to domestic matters until then.

Liverpool will host West Brom on Sunday, looking to capitalize on the chance to return to winning ways in the Premier League. Klopp then will have a full week of practice before he leads the Reds into the festive period for the first time.

Liverpool will play eight games in 28 days, beginning with its Dec. 20 Premier League clash with Watford. The period will test Klopp’s squad like never before, and he’ll have only one opportunity to field a weakened team — against Exeter City in the FA Cup.

The win over Sion served as the last chance for the likes of Smith, 21, and Rossiter, 18, to impress Klopp ahead of another action-packed period in the season. Others like Coutinho, Henderson and Roberto Firmino are trying to recover their best form, while Divock Origi, 20, and Kolo Toure, 34, look to force their way higher in Klopp’s pecking order at their positions.

They might not have any chances before the festive period begins. Only Klopp can decide whether they accomplished their missions in the throw-away game against Sion.