We Want To Attack – LASK Linz Skipper Warns Liverpool

The Austrian side booked their place in the group stage with the help of a two-legged victory against Zrinjski Mostar in the playoff round.

 

Now though, they face a tough test as they are scheduled to take on Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side in what will be their first match in Group E.

Acknowledging the status of the Merseyside club, the LASK skipper insisted that his side would ideally have no chance against the Reds in a normal match.

 

However, with the Austrian side playing attacking football in a confident manner in a Europa League match, the tide might turn in their favour, Zulj believes.

“We don’t need to say that Liverpool are the clear favourites. In a normal game you have no chance”, Zulj was quoted as saying by Austrian newspaper Der Standard.

 

“But we want to attack and play football with self-confidence. Then we’ll see what happens.”

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Trent Alexander-Arnold nearing return from injury ahead of Liverpool vs West Ham

Trent Alexander-Arnold is aiming to be fit enough to play in Liverpool’s Premier League clash against West Ham on Sunday.

However, the defender will miss the Reds’ opening Europa League match against LASK on Thursday evening.

Alexander-Arnold has been on the sidelines since picking up a hamstring injury during the 3-0 win over Aston Villa earlier in September.

The injury forced him to withdraw from the England squad and made him miss Liverpool’s 3-1 victory at Wolves last Saturday, with Joe Gomez starting at right-back instead.

Liverpool returns to the Europa League for the first time since 2016 on Thursday. The Reds face a trip to Austria as they take on LASK in their opening group stage encounter.

It is of course not the European competition Liverpool would have hoped to be in this season, having reached the Champions League final just over a year ago, but the competition does offer Jürgen Klopp the chance to win the one trophy that has evaded him during his time at Anfield, having finished runner-up seven years ago.

The Reds boss is likely to rotate his side as he looks to keep his players fresh amid a fixture list that is set to get much busier over the coming weeks.

Klopp will offer a full injury update in his pre-match press conference, which takes place at 7pm UK time on Wednesday (11am east coast in the US, and 2pm west coast).

One player who could return to the side in Austria though is Virgil van Dijk following his two-game Premier League suspension.

Ibrahima Konaté and Darwin Núñez were able to appear from the bench at Wolves after heading into the game as doubts, although the pair might not be risked on this occasion.

Trent Alexander-Arnold

Alexander-Arnold missed Saturday’s win at Wolves, having been forced to pull out of international duty with England after picking up a hamstring problem against Aston Villa.

Klopp has insisted there is no concern over the injury, telling reporters ahead of the game against Wolves: “He didn’t train with the team once yet and will take a little bit.

It is not the worst hamstring injury you can have but it’s a hamstring injury and they barely heal in two weeks — and this one didn’t, either.”

Liverpool’s home shirt for the 2023/2024 campaign pays homage to Bill Shankly and the legendary Reds manager’s final season in charge at Anfield.

The Nike shirt features a bright red design with a bold white contrast on the colour and cuffs.

Alexander-Arnold has been running though, with Klopp hopeful he would be able to get back on the ball ahead of Thursday’s game.

A trip to Austria though would seem like too much of a risk, so you would imagine caution will be exercised and the Reds’ vice-captain will be left at home in order to continue his recovery, with half an eye on the weekend’s clash with West Ham.

Conor Bradley

With Alexander-Arnold out injured, Bradley could have been in line to deputize at right-back, especially after impressing in the hybrid role during pre-season.

Having suffered a stress fracture in his back after the training camp in Germany, the 20-year-old is set to be out for around three months, leaving Klopp with a bit of a headache on the right of defense.