Liverpool face Austrian opponents LASK Linz on Thursday evening, marking the beginning of the Europa League group stage for 2023/24. While the Reds are more used to playing midweek games in the Champions League, a poor year last season has proven costly – and also paved the way for a summer revamp in midfield.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have started this year well in terms of results, despite some remaining defensive issues, and in truth should be firm favourites to top Group E which also contains French side Toulouse and Belgians Union St. Gilloise.
LASK have been on a good run domestically, winning four of the last five to move into third place, but will need to lift their game even further to keep out their Premier League visitors. Liverpool have won their last four in the top flight and also sit third there. Follow all the latest updates from LASK vs Liverpool below and get all the latest football odds here.
LASK vs Liverpool
-
Kick-off 5:45pm BST
-
Klopp could hand Ryan Gravenberch full debut
-
LIV XI: Kelleher, Bajcetic, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Doak, Nunez, Diaz
Linzer Athletik Sport Klub – Liverpool FC
LASK vs Liverpool – confirmed lineup
16:36 , Karl Matchett
The Reds have gone early and named their starting XI to face LASK, with Jurgen Klopp making a full 11 changes to the team – including a first start for Ryan Gravenberch and youngster Ben Doak in the side.
LIV XI: Kelleher, Bajcetic, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Doak, Nunez, Diaz.
The likes of Alexis Mac Allister, Joe Gomez, Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo are all among the subs.
LASK vs Liverpool – LIVE
15:44 , Karl Matchett
Good afternoon and welcome to Thursday nights in Europe with the Independent – tonight our focus is on the start of the Europa League group stage, with Liverpool heading to Austria to face LASK Linz.
Jurgen Klopp’s team were playing in a Champions League final fewer than 500 nights ago; it’s all rather different this time out after a dismal campaign for far too much of last year.
Perhaps this competition offers the chance of silverware all the same and the long journey to the final for the Reds, as well as for Brighton and West Ham, starts here this evening – and the same is true for Aston Villa in the Europa Conference League.