Liverpool started their Europa League campaign with a crucial away win in Linz.
Jurgen Klopp’s team travelled to Austria to face LASK in their first ever competitive match up between the two clubs.
Based in Linz, LASK, or Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, have been a frequent member of the Europa League in recent years. For Liverpool, it was their first match in the competition since losing 3-1 to Sevilla in the final of the tournament in 2016.
The Liverpool boss made many a change to the personnel in the line-up, notably bringing in Caoimhin Kelleher in goal in place of Alisson, who was left on the bench. Ben Doak started up front, and there was a first start for Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.
The hosts got off to a strong start as Florian Flecker netted a beautiful long-range strike to put LASK ahead inside fourteen minutes. The Austrians held their one goal advantage into half-time.
It had been a common theme so far this season for Liverpool, who have proved to be the comeback kings so far this campaign. Trailing against Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers before turning it around to win.
They had it all to do again in the second half – and it didn’t take them long. Liverpool returned in the second half a different animal, with Darwin Nunez converting a penalty, before Luis Diaz clinically pounced to finish Gravenberch’s low cross.
The manager introduced Mohamed Salah for the last fifteen or so minutes of the match, and the Egyptian just had to have his say. Netting in the final minutes to seal the three points by nutmegging the ‘keeper.
It’s a first Europa League win for Liverpool since beating Villarreal 3-0 at Anfield in the 2015/16 semi-final second leg. It’s now five wins out of six in all competitions so far for the Reds and unbeaten.
The next challenge for Liverpool is the visit of West Ham United to Anfield on Sunday, 24 September. Kick-off at 2pm.
LASK team: Lawal, Ziereis, Andrade, Luckeneder (Darboe 80), Flecker (Ba 89), Jovicic, Horvath, Renner (Bello 88), Ljubicic (Kone 68), Zulj, Havel (Mustapha).
Liverpool team: Kelleher, Bajcetic (Gomez 61), Konate (Matip 82), Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Elliott, Gravenberch (Salah 74), Endo (Mac Allister 61), Doak (Szoboszlai 61), Nunez, Diaz.
Read More Liverpool Coverage:
- Ben Doak Signs New Long Term Liverpool Contract
- We Have To Be 100% Ready – Jurgen Klopp On Europa League Campaign
- Report: Liverpool Defender On Verge Of New Contract
- Liverpool Target André Trindade Given Green Light To Depart Fluminense In January
- Report: Liverpool Made £100Million Bid For Newcastle Star Bruno Guimaraes
- Jamie Carragher Predicts Mohamed Salah Will Leave Liverpool Next Summer
Follow The LFC Transfer Room: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Podcast |