Liverpool had a poor season last campaign as they missed out on the Champions League to drop into Europe’s second-tier competition - the Europa League. This is the first time they will appear in this competition since the 2015/16 season and it is a massive downgrade by their own standards.
The Reds were quite busy in the summer, selling players and bringing in a lot of replacements. Currently, they have a new-look midfield with Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch, and Wataru Endo. Manager Jurgen Klopp is fully aware of the job on his hands and has continued to work silently and get his team back to being among the top teams in the Premier League.
Liverpool started the season at Chelsea, playing out a 1-1 draw with their top-four rivals. After that performance, the Reds followed it up by picking up their first three points of the season - a 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Anfield. After going behind early in the game, goals from Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota got the 2019-20 Premier League Champions going.
Darwin Nunez inspired Liverpool to another comeback win against Newcastle in matchweek three. They went behind to a goal from Anthony Gordon before skipper Van Dijk was sent off all in the first half. Nunez came off the bench to score two goals in the final nine minutes to turn a potential defeat into a win for the Reds at St. James’ Park.
Just before the international break, another top performance against Aston Villa at Anfield earned them their first clean sheet of the season. Szoboszlai got his first Liverpool goal, an own-goal, and a third goal from Salah before the hour mark secured the win over Unai Emery’s Villa side. Liverpool then had a scare against Wolves on Saturday but they managed to turn it around and win the game 3-1. Salah was highly involved again with Gakpo, Andrew Robertson, and another own goal helping the Reds to their fourth successive win.
They travel to Austria with much confidence and bar any shock happenings, the Reds are expected to claim a comfortable win.
LASK, who are currently third in the Austrian Bundesliga, have had a decent start to the season. They have only lost one of their games this season and it came in just their second game of the season. They have also won four of their past five games across all competitions, showcasing a good form that can help them against the English side.
LASK struggled to reach the Europa League group stage after a hard-fought win over Bosnians Zrinjski Mostar in the last round. Meanwhile, they scored three goals in an eight-minute spell in their weekend success over Austria Klagenfurt in preparation for the visit of Liverpool.
Liverpool will not be happy with playing in the Europa League this season but they do not have a choice. This will be their first-ever meeting and having won this competition in the past, Jurgen Klopp might be thinking of giving it all the attention it requires.
The Reds are huge favourites to not just win on Thursday but to win the tournament overall. And they are expected to start here with a win at LASK due to the gulf in quality between the two clubs.
Match tickets
The epic match at Raiffeisen Arena in Linz kicks off on Thursday 21st September, at 5:45 PM UK time and it will be shown live on TNT Sports, with coverage starting from around 5 PM.
This is a special night for LASK as they will be playing host to one of Europe’s most successful sides at their newly opened 19,080-capacity stadium. Regardless of the size of the competition, Liverpool fans should make their presence known in this one.
Getting tickets for LASK vs Liverpool tickets could be difficult to get given the magnitude of this game and the size of the stadium. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
The front three of Havel, Flecker, and Ljubicic scored over the weekend and should continue in attack for Thursday’s game. Based on the strength of the opposition, coach Peter Pacult might just retain the same side from the win over Klagenfurt from the weekend. The likes of Anselm, Pintor, Taoui, and Wiesinger are expected to miss the game.
LASK: Lawal; Bello, Ziereis, Andrade, Luckeneder; Zulij, Jovicic, Horvath; Ljubicic, Havel, Flecker.
Jurgen Klopp is fond of rotating his squad for games like this. Fans and tipsters should expect some changes in personnel for this trip to Austria. Kelleher should replace Alisson in goal, Tsimikas could start at left-back in place of Robertson, and Gravenberch is primed for his full Liverpool debut. Meanwhile, Thiago remains a long-term absentee.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Bajcetic, Gravenberch, Elliott; Nunez, Diaz, Gakpo.
Prediction
Liverpool have conceded in four of their five games so far this term - the game against Aston Villa is the only exception. Additionally, the Reds have conceded the opening goal in three of their five games this season, while Thursday pits them against a LASK side who have scored in nine of their 10 matches this term.
LASK may have won each of their past three games at home without conceding but Liverpool will provide a different challenge regardless of the team they have on the pitch on Thursday night.
Meanwhile, LASK Captain Robert Zulj is their key source of goals, with five goals and four assists in 10 appearances, while nine other players have scored. On Liverpool’s team, Gakpo scored in both international games this month, meaning he’s now scored in each of his last three games for club and country, while Salah comes into this game on the back of two assists against Wolves.
LASK 1-2 Liverpool
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