'Who cares?' – Jurgen Klopp gives honest response to Union Saint-Gilloise controversy

Jurgen Klopp was unconcerned about Union Saint-Gilloise scoring a potentially offside goal during Liverpool's 2-1 defeat on Thursday night.

With the final Europa League group phase match a dead rubber for already qualified Liverpool, Klopp opted to field a youthful lineup, resting most of his senior stars ahead of Sunday's clash with Manchester United.

The Reds fell to a 2-1 defeat in Belgium, with Jarell Quansah scoring the goal for the visitors in-between strikes from Mohamed Amoura and Cameron Puertas in the first half.

The game, while essentially meaningless, was not without some mild controversy, with many fans calling into question Amoura's opener.

Replays appeared to show that Amoura might've been in an offside position when the ball was played by teammate Gustaf Nilsson, evoking memories of the infamous VAR debacle in Liverpool's defeat to Tottenham earlier this season.

However, despite the suspicion of offside from some quarters, the goal was awarded with no VAR overturn, while Klopp was in no mood to engage in the debate after the match.

The manager told reporters: “It was a deserved win for Royal Union, even I heard now that the first goal might have been offside, but nobody can tell me properly… Who cares?”

Klopp also copped some flak for his decision to start the likes of Ibrahima Konate and Wataru Endo in Thursday night's encounter rather than rest the senior pair ahead of the weekend. Both players, however, were subbed off at half time without any fitness issues.

We just wanted to share the intensity," Klopp said of his lineup choices. "Do I want to play Joe Gomez for 90 or Ibou for 90? We had the chance to do 45 [and] 45, same in midfield [with Wataru Endo].

"These changes were planned before the game, independent of the result."

Liverpool now avoid Thursday night football until March, with the Reds going directly into the competition's last 16 as group winners.

The draw for that round will take place in February, following a preliminary knockout round between the Europa League group runners-up and Champions League dropouts.