LASK 1-3 Liverpool: Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah on target for Reds in UEFA Europa League opener
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Updated 21/09/2023 at 20:15 GMT
It felt as though it was going to be a long evening for Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool side as LASK took the lead in just the 14th minute through the bright Florian Flecker, but an important second-half comeback followed to ensure that the Reds got their UEFA Europa League campaign off to a strong start away from home. Darwin Nunez scored from the penalty spot before Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah netted.
Luis Diaz of Liverpool FC celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 group stage match between LASK and Liverpool FC on September 21, 2023 in Linz, Austria
Image credit: Getty Images
Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were all on target as Liverpool once again came from behind to beat LASK 3-1 and get their UEFA Europa League Group E campaign off to a positive start in Austria.
Jurgen Klopp made 11 changes to the side that won 3-1 at Wolves at the weekend and the visitors took a long time to settle and find their rhythm.
LASK rarely threatened but stunned the Merseysiders on 14 minutes when Florian Flecker sizzled a stunning strike into the far corner.
Liverpool dominated the first 45 minutes, but struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities, although Nunez was unfortunate to see a close-range header brilliantly kept out by Tobias Lawal.
The Reds have grown accustomed to trailing this term, but once again found a way back to triumph for the fourth time in their last five outings.
First Nunez powered home a soft 56th-minute penalty following a foul on Diaz, before the latter slammed home a first-time finish from Ryan Gravenberch’s lovely cross seven minutes later.
Substitute Salah then made sure of the points with a neat finish two minutes from time.
The result means Liverpool remain unbeaten this term as they return to Premier League action at home to West Ham on Sunday. The Reds’ next match in the UEFA Europa League is on October 5 when they entertain Union SG.
Talking Point
Liverpool mark Europa League return with a win as the 'Comeback Kings' strike again.
The Reds are perhaps developing an unwanted habit of having to come from behind to win this season, but this latest recovery not only gets their Group E campaign off to a flyer, it also maintains their impressive start to the new campaign.
The Merseysiders are the favourites to lift this season’s Europa League trophy and go one better than in Klopp’s first term at the helm when they came up just short in the 2016 final.
The Liverpool boss has spoken of wanting to reach that showpiece match again this season, and the strength in depth demonstrated by both his starting XI and the reinforcements to help turn the tide from the bench means the club are well placed to compete both home and abroad in 2023-24.
Player of the match
Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool). The Dutch midfielder was starved of game-time during his spell with Bayern Munich, and although he was clearly rusty here, there were signs of his class on his first start for Liverpool. Indeed, the 21-year-old produced some tidy touches and drove forward with real authority. He created the second goal for Diaz and looks like he could be an astute acquisition once Klopp's influence has rubbed off on him.
Player Ratings
LASK: Lawal 7, Ziereis 6, Andrade 7, Luckeneder 7, Flecker 7, Jovicic 6, Horvath 6, Renner 6, Ljubicic 7, Zulj 6, Havel 6. Subs: Mustapha 6, Kone 6, Darboe 5, Bello n/a, Ba n/a.
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher 7, Bajcetic 6, Konate 6, Van Dijk 7, Tsimikas 6, Endo 7, Gravenberch 8, Elliott 6, Doak 6, Diaz 7, Nunez 7. Subs: Gomez 6, Szoboszlai 7, Mac Allister 6, Salah 8, Matip n/a.
Match Highlights
14’ – GOAL! – LASK 1-0 Liverpool. The hosts work a clever left-wing corner to Flecker, lurking on the edge of the box. The midfielder takes a touch and then rifles a lovely strike into the bottom corner.
36’ – LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Lawal produces a brilliant point-blank save to deny Nunez from close range after van Dijk had nodded a right-wing corner across the six-yard box.
56’ – GOAL! – LASK 1-1 Liverpool. Nunez steps up a fires a powerful spot kick beyond the dive of the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net.
63’ – GOAL! – LASK 1-2 Liverpool. Diaz gets ahead of his marker to slam home Gravenberch's low cross from the right after good work by Nunez and Elliott.
88’ – GOAL! – LASK 1-3 Liverpool. Salah stabs a low shot beyond the keeper from close range after a neat pass from Nunez to make sure of the points.
Key stat
Jurgen Klopp became the first Liverpool manager to win 50 matches in Europe.
Ben Doak, 17, became the fourth youngest ever Liverpool player in Europe after Phil Charnock, Raheem Sterling and Michael Owen.
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