Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Liverpool are in Austria ahead of facing LASK in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, and Andoni Iraola is facing the press this afternoon
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)
Liverpool life rumbles on after the weekend meeting with Manchester City, and the Reds are now over in Austria to take on LASK in the Champions League.
After victory over Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1, the Reds would put themselves in an excellent position if they could pull off a win here, but Andoni Iraola has been forced to leave three of his big names - Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai - back at home.
That means a squad with some young names in it has headed over for the game, and Ian Doyle is there with them as Iraola and left-back Milos Kerkez face the press this afternoon.
See what they have to say below.
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Kerkez done
That's quite enough from Milos. Textbook pre-Champions League player verbage.
Now we await Iraola...
I don't know if he is fit for Saturday. You'll have to ask the gaffer that. I know Dom and he doesn't like to be out long. Knowing him, he wants to play every game and will want to play Saturday.
We have played a few games but we need a bit more time. He is a real talent.
He showed at PSG he has great skills and can help us a lot. We just have to talk more and build that connection more and it will help us get a better combination down the left.
When I say talk, us in general need to get to know him better. In training he is really good.
Kerkez on player demands with schedule
Obviously it's a bit tough. Games are coming quick but we are professionals. We have to take recovery very seriously. We have squad and quality.We have young players and it's about recovery. You don't have much time to train.You have to take recovery seriously and go 100% ready for the next game.
The style of play right now, we are running a lot, playing more front-footed, the players are buying into his philosophy. There is a still a way to go and a way to improve but I think we are on the right track.I am more settled now. I knew the manager for a long time at Bournemouth. I feel a lot more easy.It depends on the game, depends on who we are playing against and who the winger is. He tells me game by game what he wants to do.
Time update
The flight with the Liverpool players on was delayed taking off.
They've landed now but what it means is the press conference now won't be starting at about 4pm UK time.
Stick with us.
Much to say, Milos?
Remember the last one of these before the Atletico Madrid game? When Alexis Mac Allister used the opportunity to put his contract situation front and centre in quite spectacular style?
You don't often get one of those from a player in these Champions League press conferences, but we'll see if Milos Kerkez can follow suit with something similarly headline-grabbing today.
It worked for Mac Allister of course, he scored the winner against Atletico...
In position
Here we are in Linz, Austria.
We are inside the Raiffeisen Stadium awaiting Andoni Iraola and Milos Kerkez.
I was here three years ago when Liverpool won 3-1 but we missed the press conference because of a delayed flight.
So, progress already on that score.
Last time at LASK
It is of course just over three years since Liverpool played LASK in Austria, where the Reds ran out 3-1 winners in the group stages of the Europa League.
Florian Flecker gave the hosts the lead in the first half, but second half strikes from Darwin Nunez (a penalty), Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah secured a 3-1 win for Jurgen Klopp's side who were wearing that fetching purple kit.
Liverpool name 23-man squad for LASK trip
Injury-hit Liverpool have included Academy youngsters Josh Sonni-Lambie and Wellity Lucky in their 23-man squad for the Champions League clash with LASK.
But as expected the Reds remain without forward duo Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo along with midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai here in Linz.
Liverpool jetted out to Austria on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the game the following evening as they look to bounce back from their disappointing 3-0 Premier League reverse at home to Manchester City on Sunday.
Andoni Iraola already knew he was without long-term injury victims Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni as they continue to recover their fitness.
And his fears have been realised over the trio of Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai, who were all missing against City.
Isak picked up a thigh problem playing for Sweden during the recent international break, Gakpo hurt his ankle when in action for the Netherlands while Szoboszlai has a hamstring complaint.
Iraola’s options have been hampered further by neither Wataru Endo nor Federico Chiesa being named in the Champions League squad for the league stage.
As a consequence, the squad has been bolstered by the inclusion of Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Luke Chambers.
Danns and McConnell last appeared in the Champions League for Liverpool when starting the 3-2 loss at PSV Eindhoven in January 2025 while Chambers’ last European outing was in the Europa League 2-1 loss at Union Saint-Gilloise in December 2023.
And there is also room for Academy duo centre-back Lucky and forward Sonni-Lambie.
Both have previously featured for Liverpool in the UEFA Youth League while Lucky made his senior bow in the League Cup loss to Crystal Palace last season.
Liverpool travelling squad: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Mac Allister, Tsimikas, Munoz, Mamardashvili, Woodman, Barcola, Frimpong, Araujo, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Chambers, McConnell, Koumas, Ngumoha, Danns, Sonni-Lambie, Lucky.
Hello
Google's AI overview tells me there are a few main ways to say hello in Austrian German, which all depend on the situation.
So hopefully one of these below is a welcome to a live blog for a Champions League press conference.
Grüß Gott: A formal or polite greeting used everywhere, meaning "greet God".
Servus: A very common, friendly greeting (used for both hello and goodbye).
Grüß dich (or Grias di): A casual greeting for one person you know.