Liverpool 4-0 LASK - Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool goal No. 199 as Reds hammer LASK and secure top spot
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Updated 01/12/2023 at 00:22 GMT
Mohamed Salah scored his 199th goal for Liverpool as the Reds hammered Austrian side LASK 4-0 at Anfield on Thursday in the Europa League. The win, combined with a 0-0 draw for Toulouse in the other game in the group secured top spot for Jurgen Klopp’s side which means they will automatically advance to the last 16 of the Europa League and avoid the need of having to play in a play-off game.
Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates after scoring their 3rd goal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Liverpool FC and LASK at Anfield on November 30, 2023 in Liverpool, England.
Image credit: Getty Images
Cody Gakpo scored twice and Mohamed Salah moved on to 199 goals for the club as Liverpool booked their place in the UEFA Europa League Last 16 courtesy of a convincing 4-0 victory over LASK at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp opted for nine changes from the 1-1 draw at Manchester City at the weekend, but it made little difference as a header from Luis Diaz and a close-range finish from Gakpo put the Merseysiders two up inside 15 minutes.
Salah added a third from the penalty spot on 51 minutes to go one away from the milestone and it was rather routine from there with Gakpo putting the icing on the cake with his second of the night in stoppage time.
The result means Liverpool finish top of Group E with a game to spare and qualify for the Last 16 on 12 points. Toulouse are second on eight points with Union Saint-Gilloise third on five and LASK bottom with three.
Liverpool will now conclude their Group E campaign at Union SG on December 14. LASK host Toulouse.
Talking Point – Job done for Liverpool with bigger challenges to come
It promised to be a routine evening for Liverpool at Anfield and so it proved. The Reds rarely got out of second gear as they cruised to a victory to make it 10 wins from 10 on home turf this season.
Klopp made full use of his squad, his forwards got amongst the goals and a clean sheet added to the list of positives, particularly given that Caoimhin Kelleher is due to stand-in for the injured Alisson for a run of upcoming games. That shut-out will be a timely confidence-booster for the Irishman.
Toulouse’s draw at home to Union SG means qualification for the Last 16 is secured with a game to spare and they can now put aside a focus on the UEFA Europa League until March. Indeed, Jurgen Klopp can give his youngsters a run-out in the last Group E match in Belgium which could be of real benefit given the hectic run of fixtures during December.
Player of the match
Cody Gakpo (Liverpool). The forward netted a brace and won the penalty converted by Salah, reminding Klopp of the wealth of riches he has at his disposal in the attacking third.
Player Ratings
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher 8, Gomez 8, Quansah 8, Konate 7, Tsimikas 7, Endo 6, Gravenberch 8, Elliott 8, Diaz 8, Salah 7, Gakpo 8*. Subs: Jones 6, Alexander-Arnold 7, Nunez 6, Bradley n/a, Chambers n/a.
LASK: Lawal 8, Ziereis 6, Andrade 7, Talovierov 6, Stojkovic 6, Horvath 6, Ljubic 6, Bello 6, Zulj 7, Usor 7, Ljubicic 7. Subs: Mustapha 6, Havel 6, Flecker 6, Renner 6, Kone 6.
Match Highlights
12’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 1-0 LASK (Luis Diaz): Diaz opens the scoring as he makes a late dart into the middle of the box to flash a header home from Gomez's right-wing cross.
15’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 2-0 LASK (Cody Gakpo): Gakpo has the simple task of touching into an empty net from close range after sharp work on the right byline by Salah.
51’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 3-0 LASK (Mo Salah): Salah calmly fires his penalty into the bottom corner with the keeper rooted to the spot.
90+2’ – GOAL! – Liverpool 4-0 LASK (Cody Gakpo): Gakpo grabs his second of the night as he collects Alexander-Arnold's pass, cuts inside and fizzes a superb strike into the far corner.
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