Jurgen Klopp called it an "important experience" as his youthful Liverpool side lost 2-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise in their final Europa League group game on Dec 14, while Villarreal snatched a place in the last 16 from Rennes with a dramatic and controversial victory in France.
The Reds manager rang the changes with his team already secure as Group E winners and with an eye on the weekend's English Premier League game against rivals Manchester United, starting six players aged 20 or younger.
He admitted that it was tough for his team to clinch a win but also saw the positives in their display.
"I think we definitely all saw the same game, so for us it was a deserved win for Union," he said.
"They are well set up, they fielded a stronger side, I mixed up the team completely, so I think the changes we made, the amount of changes, were too much for rhythm.
This story is from the December 16, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the December 16, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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