Main events
Preamble
The only time Liverpool visited Lask in the Europa League in 2023, Jurgen Klopp was still manager of the club and the German fielded a largely second XI with Caoimhin Kelleher, Kostas Tsimikas, Harvey Elliott, Steven Bajcetic, Ben Gannon-Doak, Darwinez Endou, Watarú Endou.
Lask led 1-0 at half-time and although Núñez scored an early second-half penalty, it was only after the hour mark – when Klopp brought on Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis McAllister – that Liverpool finally took control of the match. Two minutes after those substitutions, Luis Diaz put Liverpool ahead, with another late substitute, Mohamed Salah, coming off the bench to seal a 3-1 win.
Almost all of these players (and managers) are currently either out of the club or unavailable through injury, and Andoni Iraola will surely pick a stronger XI this time around. Not only because the Spaniard hasn’t had the chance to slide in Austria, but also because Lask has enjoyed more success since his last move to Liverpool, with the Linz-based club winning the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time since 1965 last season. The absence of the main squad, including Alexander Isak, Cody Gakporess and his three goals. Iraola will definitely play his best team wherever he can. Some players, including Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola (the latter of whom has not scored or assisted in six games since his £123m arrival from Paris Saint-Germain, or even had a possession in the last three), need to get themselves in form if the Reds are to play in the Champions League again next season. Iraola said he has confidence in the £100m+ pair, that’s one thing to say the least.
Liverpool should be wary of striker Christophe Lange, who has started this season with five goals in eight league games. It would be a huge blow for Lask if Moses Usor is not fit – the winger topped the club in both goals and assists in last year’s double-winning season and scored on his debut for Nigeria during the recent international break, but is a doubt for this match. Melayro Bogarde, the nephew of ex-Ajax, Barcelona and Chelsea defender Winston Bogarde, is another important cog at the base of Lusk’s midfield.
Interesting start 17.45 BST for an interesting match. And something Liverpool should not take lightly.