Liverpool vs LASK | Live Stream
Liverpool will host LASK in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, looking to bounce back from the defeat against Toulouse last time out.
Liverpool have picked up three wins and a defeat from four group matches so far, and they will look to pick up a win at home and book their place in the next round of the competition when they welcome LASK to Anfield.
Meanwhile, the visitors are at the bottom of Group E, having picked up just one win from four group matches. It remains to be seen whether they can pull off an upset here. The last time these two sides met in September, Liverpool picked up a 3-1 win away from home, and they will be the favourites heading into this contest as well.
LASK managed to pick up a win over Union SG in the last Europa League outing, and that will have given them some confidence boost. It remains to be seen whether they can grind out a positive result here. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Andrew Robertson remain long-term absentees for Liverpool. They could be joined on the sidelines by Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota as well. Both players picked up knocks during the draw against Manchester City at the weekend, and Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to risk them here.
Caoimhin Kelleher is set to start in goal behind a back four of Joe Gomez, Joel Matip, Jarell Quansah and Kostas Tsimikas. The Reds are likely to continue in their usual 4-3-3 formation in front of Kelleher.
In the midfield, Wataru Endo will be the anchor, and he will look to break up opposition attacks and win the ball back for his side. Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones will add technicality and creativity to the side alongside Endo. Finally, Cody Gakpo will lead the line for the hosts here, with Ben Doak and Luis Diaz on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Doak, Gakpo, Diaz
LASK
The visitors will be without the services of Adil Taoui, Philipp Wiesinger and Ebrima Darboe due to their respective injuries. LASK are likely to shape up in a 3-4-3 formation, with Tobias Lawal in goal.
In the back three, Maksym Talovyerov will start alongside Philipp Ziereis and Andres Andrade. Ivan Ljubic and Sascha Horvath will start in central midfield, and they will look to protect the central defence and add defensive steel to the midfield.
Filip Stojkovic and George Bello will start as the wing-backs here. They will add protection to the back three and help out during counterattacks. Marin Ljubicic and Moses Usor will be deployed as the wingers, and they will look to help out during transitions with their pace and flair. Finally, Robert Zulj will lead the line for LASK.
Probable Lineup (3-4-3): Lawal; Taovyerov, , Ziereis, Andrade; Stojkovic, Ljubic, Horvath, Bello; Ljubicic, Zulj, Usor
Key Stats
- Liverpool are winless in three of their last six matches across all competitions.
- Liverpool have scored 12 goals in four matches in the UEFA Europa League.
- LASK have won four of the last five matches across all competitions.
- Liverpool have scored in each of their last six matches across all competitions.
Key Player
Luis Diaz
The Colombian winger will be expected to open up the LASK defence with his pace, flair and movement. Diaz, recently linked with La Liga heavyweights, will be Liverpool’s main creative outlet here.
The 26-year-old has scored once in two UEFA Europa League starts this season, and he will look to add to his tally here. LASK have been vulnerable at the back, and Diaz could cause all sorts of problems for them.
Prediction
Liverpool 3-0 LASK
The home side are undoubtedly a much better team on paper even though they are likely to field a heavily rotated side here. The Reds should be able to grind out a comprehensive win at home on Thursday.
The Merseyside outfit are formidable at home, and LASK are unlikely to be able to contain their attack. Liverpool will take heart from their draw against Manchester City, and they will be confident of getting a good result here. A 3-0 home win is on the cards.
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