Liverpool travel to face LASK on Wednesday evening, looking to bounce back from their disappointing 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City.
The Reds began their Champions League campaign with a victory, but injuries and a brutal fixture schedule have left manager Andoni Iraola with a selection headache.
With another demanding domestic fixture coming up on Saturday, Liverpool must be smart and keep their players fresh.
Match preview
Liverpool will be determined to return to winning ways when they take on LASK at Raiffeisen Arena.
The Merseyside club competed well against City before Ryan Gravenberch’s dismissal around the hour mark. THey need an immediate response.
Liverpool have made a positive start to their Champions League campaign, having recovered from a goal down to beat Atletico Madrid last month.
They will also take confidence from their record against Austrian opposition, winning eight of their 10 previous encounters with teams from the country (L1).
The Reds have also won four and drawn one of their five competitive matches in Austria.
LASK are struggling for consistency after losing their Champions League opener against AEK Athens.
Dietmar Kuhbauer’s side have gone four competitive matches without a victory, most recently suffering a 2-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna.
However, they will be eager to exploit Liverpool’s injury problems and need for reshuffling, and to make the most of home advantage.
The record books do not favour them. LASK have lost their opening Champions League fixture and are winless in their last eight UEFA group-stage or league-phase matches.
Liverpool beat LASK 3-1 away from home before recording a 4-0 victory at Anfield during the 2023/24 Europa League group stage.
Liverpool team news
Liverpool will be without Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai. However, Iraola suggested they were close to returning.
Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are long-term absentees.
Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are also unavailable because they were not included in Liverpool’s Champions League league-phase squad.
Iraola has publicly backed both Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola to deliver despite their relatively modest attacking returns.
Wednesday’s match is an opportunity to justify that confidence.
Jeremie Frimpong should start at right-back, allowing Ronald Araujo to rest. The 25-year-old will be out to redeem himself after his recent performances.
Joe Gomez might step in ahead of Jeremy Jacquet to partner Virgil van Dijk.
Van Dijk is expected to captain the side for the 200th time, becoming only the eighth player in Liverpool history to achieve the milestone.
Lewis Koumas could lead the line again, while the ‘creative‘ Rio Ngumoha is another attacking option.
Liverpool predicted starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Alisson; Jeremie Frimpong, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Bradley Barcola, Florian Wirtz, Rio Ngumoha; Lewis Koumas.