Austria Trailing in the first half, Liverpool still beat LASK 3-1 in the first round of Group E Europa League.
Only six games into the season, Liverpool have won four times from behind. The story in Austria was the same, with the hosts opening the scoring with a superb long-range strike. However, just seven minutes into the second half, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz scored to put the visitors ahead, before Mohamed Salah sealed the victory.
Forward Luis Diaz celebrates scoring the second goal for Liverpool against LASK in Group E of the Europa League at Raiffeisen Stadium, Linz, Austria on the evening of September 21, 2023. Photo: LFC
According to the Opta index, Liverpool are ranked second in the world, while LASK are in 146th place, lower than the bottom team in the Premier League like Luton Town. Therefore, coach Jurgen Klopp boldly used supporting actors such as 18-year-old midfielder Ben Doak, new signing Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, defenders Konstantinos Tsimikas and Stefan Bajcetic.
Klopp appeared optimistic at the start of the match, with his hands in his pockets as the home coaching staff argued. However, it was LASK who opened the scoring with a well-crafted free-kick. Midfielder Sascha Horvath flicked the ball from the left out of the box for Florian Flecker to take and volley into the far corner past goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. The first European goal at Raiffeisen was a masterpiece, and Flecker did an equally beautiful backflip to celebrate. Off the pitch, Klopp folded his arms in amazement.
Flecker's somersault to celebrate his goal. Photo: UEFA
Liverpool were unfazed as they pressed forward and created a few dangerous chances. It was inevitable, however, that Diaz would be fouled in the home area by defender Philipp Ziereis in the 55th minute, and Italian referee Marco Di Bello immediately awarded a penalty. Nunez made no mistake from the penalty spot, firing into the left corner to equalise.
As usual, Liverpool played with excitement after equalizing. In the 63rd minute, Gravenberch crossed to the right to receive an overlapping pass from Harvey Elliott, before crossing for Diaz to tap the ball in from close range. This was the Colombian striker's fourth goal in nine matches in the tournament.
Nunez equalized from the penalty spot. Photo: UEFA
When Liverpool are ahead and in a good mood, they are hard to beat. They even scored another late in the game, five minutes after Salah came on. Receiving a pass from Nunez in the penalty area, the Egyptian star pushed the ball close to the goalkeeper and then chipped the ball into the opponent's net to score. At that time, there were three Liverpool players waiting for the cross to tap into an empty net, but Salah did not pass. So after scoring, he raised both hands to signal for sympathy from his teammates.
Liverpool achieved their goal in Austria, winning three points and keeping their key players fit. Therefore, they will be in good shape when they return to Anfield to face West Ham in the sixth round of the Premier League on September 24.
Hoang An
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