Liverpool vs Genk: Amazing line-up Belgian side could have fielded if they hadn’t sold their best players, including two ex-Chelsea aces
Liverpool travel to Genk on Wednesday evening in the hope of securing their second win of the Champions League group stages.
The European champions have one victory and one loss so far, having been defeated by Napoli in their opening match and narrowly overcoming a spirited Red Bull Salzburg fightback to claim three points in a seven-goal thriller last time out.
Genk have had a poor start to the season and sit in sixth in the Belgian top flight, having lost four of their opening ten matches.
The Smurfs - as they are brilliantly known - are currently 10 points behind pace setters Club Brugge, but their silverware ambitions would have undoubtedly been met if they hadn't lost a wealth of key players.
Somewhat surprisingly, Genk have one of the leading recruitment departments in Europe and used to have an array of superstars who now ply their trade at many of Europe's top teams.
But how could the club look if they hadn't cashed in on some of their star players? marvelbet369.com has identified an XI of the talented ex-Genk players who are shining elsewhere.
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Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois
The Real Madrid stopper spent two seasons with Genk as a youngster and cemented his name as one of the brightest young goalkeepers in the world.
His imperious performances earned him a transfer to Chelsea - but he was immediately sent out on loan to Atletico Madrid after and spent three successful seasons with the LaLiga club.
The Belgian would eventually succeed club legend Pet Cech between the sticks at Stamford Bridge and win numerous titles before he became public enemy No.1 with Blues fans for forcing a move to Real Madrid.
His short career at the Bernabeu couldn't be going much worse so far, with his most recent disaster seeing him substituted at half-time in Real's last Champions League match.
Defence: Timothy Castagne, Kalidou Koulibaly, Christian Kabasele, Jere Uronen
Former Genk defender Castagne is highly sought-after impressing for Atalanta on the right side of defence.
The 23-year-old was bought by Genk in 2017 and helped his side to a third-place finish before sealing a move to the Serie A side.
He has continued his stellar displays for Atalanta and this has seen interest from Celtic, Crystal Palace and Napoli hot up for his services.
According to Atalanta are negotiating a new contract for the full-back which would at least double his current salary.
Koulibaly joined the Napoli from Genk in 2014 and is regarded as one of Europe’s best defenders.
He was a summer target for Manchester United, before they paid Leicester £80million to make Harry Maguire the world’s most expensive defender in August.
Napoli president De Laurentiis knows he will have to part ways with Koulibaly one day.
He told : “I loved Koulibaly the man so I refused €105million, but a time will come when I’ll have to sell him.
“Whoever says we didn’t improve our defence is wrong.”
Kabasele's career has been rather modest. The defender moved to Genk in 2014 was already a big step up from fellow Belgian outfit Eupen, but his move to Watford sparked a rapid rise to stardom in just two seasons.
He had been an ever-present for the Hornets in his three years with the club - but has appeared in just four matches so far this term.
Uronen is still playing for Genk and has made over 90 league appearances for the Belgian club, scoring two goals.
His displays on the left side of defence have caught the eye in recent months. and he was actually linked with a summer move to Arsenal as a replacement for Nacho Monreal before the Gunners signed Kieran Tierney.
He will be hoping to cause problems for Liverpool on Wednesday evening.
Midfielders: Wilfried Ndidi, Sergei Milinkovic-Savic, Kevin de Bruyne
Genk enjoyed two years of service from Ndidi from 2015 to 2017 before he sealed a switch to Leicester, and he has been hugely impressive for the Foxes in the Premier League.
The Nigerian has gone some way to filling the big boots of N'Golo Kante in the XI and it is only a matter of time before a big European club swoops in for the midfielder.
Milinkovic-Savic is one of the best midfielders in Europe and Genk have a lot to thank for his development.
The Spain-born Serb spent a single season with the Belgian outfit, after joining Serbian side Vojvodina, before heading to Lazio, where he has netted 23 times in 133 matches for the Rome-based club.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to Manchester United in recent transfer windows for his dominant displays at the heart of the midfield.
De Bruyne is arguably the best midfielder in the world at the moment, having starred for Man City so far this campaign, notching up a remarkable eight assists.
The playmaker will remain Genk's biggest and best export for the foreseeable future, with many tipping the Belgium international to be named Player of the Season in May should he remain injury-free.
Forwards: Leon Bailey, Leandro Trossard, Christian Benteke
Bailey dazzled for Genk before he sealed a move to Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
The Jamaican winger has scored 15 goals in 68 appearances for the club, though he has struggled with a hamstring injury so far this season and for parts of the last campaign.
Brighton playmaker Trossard also boasted a phenomenal record for Genk before he moved to the Seagulls in the summer.
The playmaker netted 27 goals in 83 appearances for the Belgian side, having been sent out on loan four times before moving to the English top flight.
Crystal Palace marksman Benteke graduated through Genk's academy and featured for the first team for two seasons before joining Standard Liege.
He then returned to Genk and impressed before earning a move to Aston Villa, and after three very successful seasons with the Birmingham club, a big-money move to Liverpool followed.
However, he failed to impress at Anfield and subsequently moved to Crystal Palace, where has blown hot and cold in south London but was recently handed a new contract.
