sion stand firm against liverpool to progress published: thursday 10 december 2015, 21.58cet sion 0-0 liverpool the hosts combined discipline with energy on a bitterly cold night to hold liverpool and earn the point needed to qualify from group b. by sam adams from tourbillon
resolute and disciplined sion earn point needed to progress draw means that visitors liverpool finish top of group b chances hard to come by on cold night in valais both teams in the round of 32 draw (monday at 13.00cet)
sion qualified for the uefa europa league round of 32 after holding liverpool at home to gain the point they needed in group b.
with rubin failing to win at bordeaux, sion would have progressed whatever their result but their courageous display sent their delighted fans home in high spirits on what was a freezing evening. the result means already-qualified liverpool finished top of the section.
for much of the contest, sion were more than content to let liverpool have the ball between their two centre-halves, who found it hard to regularly involve the reds' more creative players.
ındeed, the hosts' disciplined shape led to a couple of first-half breakaways through the industrious edimilson fernandes, though he was ultimately crowded out on both occasions.
at the other end, firmino went close early on and divock origi drove wide but liverpool – who had made six changes from sunday’s defeat at newcastle – could not find their attacking rhythm.
jürgen klopp brought on coutinho on the hour, but sion were growing into the game and a succession of set pieces around the liverpool area raised the volume in the compact tourbillon.
there was to be no fairy-tale victory, although sion will not mind as they can look forward to european football in the spring for the first time since 1987.
sion's solidity needing only a point to progress, sion were certainly not going to give anything away cheaply. their shape was rock solid with midfielders xavier kouassi and veroljub salatic leading by example.
much-changed liverpool klopp made six changes from the anfield side's last outing and liverpool could not get their attacking flow going throughout. nevertheless, they finish top of the section and will be seeded on monday.
