LASK vs Liverpool: Confirmed Line-Up, Rotation and What Is at Stake in Linz
Andoni Iraola has rotated for Liverpool's Champions League trip to LASK, with Tsimikas as captain and Van Dijk on the bench. Here is who plays and why it matters.
Confirmed Liverpool line-up
Liverpool's official team news confirms several changes for the trip to Austria. Andoni Iraola has made room for Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha, while Jeremie Frimpong also comes into the defence.
The starting XI is: Alisson; Jacquet, Tsimikas, Frimpong, Araujo; Gravenberch, Nyoni; Barcola, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Koumas. The Guardian lists it as a 4-2-3-1 with Koumas up front.
The substitutes are Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister, Munoz, Chambers, McConnell, Danns, Sonni-Lambie and Lucky.
Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz are the players making way. The Guardian's match blog links the rest to a testing league trip to Brentford on Saturday.
LASK team news
LASK have their own problems. Usor, described by the Guardian as arguably their star man, is left out of the squad. He lasted only 12 minutes off the bench in a 2-0 defeat to Rapid Vienna at the weekend before being withdrawn.
Left-back George Bello was also hurt in that game. Yvan Dibango replaces him at left wing-back in a 5-3-2 shape.
Background: why this one matters
LASK won the Austrian domestic double last season, and the league title was their first since 1965. They also reached this stage by recovering from four goals down to beat Celtic 5-4 on aggregate in qualifying.
Their league phase opener was less impressive, a 1-0 loss to AEK Athens. Liverpool's only earlier visit to LASK was a Europa League tie in 2023, which Liverpool won 3-1 after trailing at half-time under Jürgen Klopp.
The Guardian says Iraola "can ill afford a slip up" in Austria. The sources do not set out Liverpool's current league phase record or table position, so a points total is not given here.
Florian Wirtz is also in the spotlight. The Guardian says he has struggled to show his best form for Liverpool, and it calls this a big game for him.
What it means for you
The sources do not give a kickoff time or name broadcasters in the US, Canada or Australia, so check your local listings. The Guardian's blog references TNT Sport's expected line-up, which suggests UK coverage there, but the sources do not confirm it.
Liverpool's official site also notes its youth side won at LASK in the Academy Youth League. Wright scored a hat-trick in a comeback win.
What happens next
Liverpool's next fixture after this one is a trip to Brentford on Saturday, according to the Guardian. The Champions League league phase continues after that, but the sources do not give those dates.
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Quick answers
Who captains Liverpool against LASK?
Kostas Tsimikas wears the armband at the Raiffeisen Arena, according to Liverpool's official team news.
Is Virgil van Dijk playing against LASK?
No, he is among the substitutes. Kerkez, Mac Allister and Munoz are also on the bench.
Is LASK's Moses Usor fit?
No. He is out of the matchday squad after going off injured just 12 minutes into his appearance against Rapid Vienna.
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