Liverpool make nine changes as long-term injury absence returns against LASK Linz
Liverpool team news in full for the Europa League clash against LASK.
Jurgen Klopp has made nine changes to his Liverpool team for the Europa League Group E clash against LASK Linz at Anfield.
Mo Salah and Kostas Tsimikas are the two survivors from last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Manchester City. Salah captains the side and takes up his usual right-wing role.
On the left, the injured Diogo Jota – set to be sidelined for a prolonged period – is replaced by Luis Diaz while Cody Gakpo spearheads the attack with Darwin Nunez rested.
Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch operate in midfield for Curtis Jones, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister respectively. In defence, Tsimikas is joined by Jarell Quansah, Ibou Konate and Joe Gomez. Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Trent Alexander-Arnold are in reserve.
Alisson Becker is ruled out for the next two weeks although Caoimhin Kelleher was due to feature in goal regardless. It means that 20-year-old Marcelo Pitaluga provides cover among the substitutes.
Meanwhile, Conor Bradley – who has been absent since pre-season with a stress fracture to the back – is on the bench for the first time this campaign. The right-back enjoyed a highly fruitful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in 2022-23. Kaide Gordon is also in the squad as he works his way back to full fitness having missed the entirety of last term.
Liverpool: Kelleher, Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas, Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Gakpo.
Subs: Pitaluga, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Jones, Matip, Chambers, Gordon, Doak, Alexander-Arnold, Bradley.
READ NEXT:
Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. LASK: Salah starts, 9 changes in strong XL
Mo Salah starts as part of a rotated Liverpool side vs. LASK, with Jurgen Klopp making nine changes for the penultimate group game of the Europa League.
The Reds can secure a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League tonight, though will be hoping it comes with progress straight to the last 16.
Avoiding a playoff against a Champions League side is paramount, and though things rest on Toulouse vs. Union SG elsewhere, the first priority will be victory over LASK.
Klopp has stuck with his rotation policy, however, though the inclusion of Caoimhin Kelleher comes amid injury to Alisson.
Joe Gomez takes over at right-back, with Ibrahima Konate partnering Jarell Quansah at centre-back and Kostas Tsimikas retained at left-back.
Wataru Endo is go-to No. 6 in the Europa League, and is joined again Harvey Elliott and Ryan Gravenberch.
In attack, Salah captains the side on the right flank, with Luis Diaz on the left and Cody Gakpo up front.
Liverpool: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo
Substitutes: Pitaluga, Van Dijk, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Chambers, Bradley, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Jones, Gordon, Doak, Nunez
LASK: Lawal; Ziereis, Andrade, Talovierov; Stojkovic, Horvath, Ljubic, Bello; Zulj; Usor, Ljubicic
Substitutes: Siebenhandl, Renner, Kone, Balic, Jovicic, Mustapha, Havel, Ba, Goiginger, Flecker, Luckeneder, Darboe
Leave a Reply