LASK vs Liverpool predictions: Much-changed Reds to edge past LASK
- Liverpool unbeaten in their last 16 competitive matches
- LASK drew 3-3 with Tottenham in 2020 - their last clash with an English team
- Recommended bet: Liverpool to win and both teams to score
You have to go back to the 2015-16 season for the last time Liverpool were in the Europa League, when they reached the final under Jurgen Klopp.
The Reds will be frustrated not to be looking forward to a Champions League campaign and Klopp is likely to use this tournament as a change to rotate his squad.
With the strength in depth in the Liverpool squad, they should still progress from Group E – which also includes Toulouse and Union Saint-Gilloise – as well as Thursday’s opponents LASK Linz.
Team news
Liverpool are expected to be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the clash in Linz, while Thiago Alcantara is not yet ready to return to the Reds squad.
Alexander-Arnold sat out the weekend Premier League victory at Wolves due to a hamstring injury and it looks unlikely that Klopp will risk him – especially with a big clash against West Ham on Sunday.
Jarell Quansah filled in at centre-back at Molineux and the 20-year-old could be asked to play in that role again on Thursday, with Joe Gomez the most likely replacement at full-back.
Meanwhile, Thiago has still not taken part in any ball work in training, after suffering a setback in his recovery from hip surgery. The Spanish international is also set to miss out again this week.
The likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Harvey Elliott and Kostas Tsimikas are likely to play a part in Austria, having been on the bench at Wolves.
Robert Zulj looks to be the main threat for the hosts, with the experienced frontman having scored five goals in his last seven competitive starts.
The stats
You have to go back to the first day of April for Liverpool’s last defeat – winning five and drawing three of their last eight games away from Anfield.
It is also worth noting that the Reds have only failed to score once in their last nine matches on the road, with Klopp’s men winning their last two away games at Newcastle and Wolves.
At the other end of the pitch though, it is now seven competitive away matches without a clean sheet for Liverpool.
LASK are unbeaten in their last seven games and their last defeat at the Raiffeisen Arena was back in May, when they went down 1-0 to RB Salzburg.
Prediction
A Liverpool win and both teams to score has landed in three of the last four Reds matches and, with several changes to the starting XI likely, LASK will feel they can find the net on home soil.
Klopp has used four different centre-back pairings in the first five games of the campaign and that has led to Liverpool giving away chances, especially with new midfielders still coming to terms with what the manager wants.
Going forward though, the Reds look as big a threat as ever having bagged 12 goals in their opening five matches.
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