Image for Kostas Tsimikas captains historic young Liverpool side as LASK team news confirmed
Image for Kostas Tsimikas captains historic young Liverpool side as LASK team news confirmed
When the team sheet dropped inside the Raiffeisen Arena ahead of tonight’s 5:45pm BST kick-off, even the most seasoned Kopites took a second glance.
Virgil van Dijk on the bench? Alexis Mac Allister listed among the substitutes? And Kostas Tsimikas wearing the captain’s armband?
In his first away fixture in the Champions League since taking the reins, Andoni Iraola hasn’t just rotated his squad he has trusted the future. Averaging just 24 years and 186 days, this is the third-youngest starting XI Liverpool have ever fielded in Europe’s premier competition, trailing only iconic youth-laden sides against Borussia Dortmund in 2001 and Midtjylland in 2020.
Coming off a bruising 3-0 setback at the Etihad on Sunday, it is a statement that shows utter faith in the talent emerging through the ranks and a tactical calculation with a eye on Saturday’s trip to Brentford.
Fearless Youth Meets German Sparkle
With eight senior stars absent through injury or eligibility, Iraola has pulled no punches in reshaping his line-up.
Alisson Becker retains his place in goal for the eighth time this season behind a completely restructured back four featuring Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, and skipper Tsimikas.
In midfield, with Ryan Gravenberch set to serve a domestic suspension this weekend, the Dutch international gets the nod alongside teenager Trey Nyoni and German playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Further forward, the front three carries pure dynamic threat: 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha returns on the wing, flanked by Bradley Barcola and Lewis Koumas leading the charge.
Confirmed Liverpool XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Jacquet, Tsimikas (C); Nyoni, Gravenberch, Wirtz; Ngumoha, Barcola, Koumas.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Van Dijk, Gomez, Lucky, Chambers, Kerkez, Mac Allister, McConnell, Munoz, Danns, Sonni-Lambie.
While Liverpool supporters will be captivated by the sheer energy of Iraola’s young side, LASK present a unique challenge under the European lights.
This is the Austrian side’s first-ever home match in the Champions League proper, having secured their spot in sensational fashion by overcoming a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Celtic to win 5-1 after extra time in the play-offs.
Their danger man is undoubtedly Christoph Lang, who arrives in blistering form with 11 goals in 14 appearances this term. Fresh off scoring his first international goal for Austria against Kosovo, the eccentric forward who famously joked he was “unbeatable” at backgammon and sports a tattoo reading “speech is silver, silence is golden”—will be eager to test Liverpool’s fresh defensive pairing.
What It Means for Kopites
As supporters tuning into TNT Sports 2 or HBO Max, there is an unmistakable thrill in seeing a line-up like this.
Yes, the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City hurt, and losing key figures like Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak, and Cody Gakpo to injuries creates undeniable anxiety. But nights like tonight are where new heroes are born.
To see teenagers like Nyoni, Ngumoha, and Koumas stepping onto the Champions League pitch together isn’t a sign of weaknessit is proof that the pipeline at Anfield is firing on all cylinders. Iraola isn’t protecting his youngsters he is giving them the stage to show why they belong at this level.
With Van Dijk rested, Gravenberch getting valuable minutes before his league suspension, and a bench packed with raw potential, the Reds are set up for a night of European football in Linz.