Liverpool travel to Austria for their second Champions League League Stage fixture against LASK Linz on Wednesday evening. The match at the Raiffeisen Arena, kicking off at 17:45 local time, comes just days after a sobering 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League. The Reds have conceded 8 goals in their last 5 matches across all competitions.
Liverpool sit ninth in the domestic table with nine points from six games, nine points behind the leaders. That 3-0 loss at Anfield, with goals from Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku and Rayan Cherki, is the immediate backdrop to this European trip. Their form in the last five matches across all competitions shows three wins, a draw and that single defeat. In the Champions League League Stage, they began with a 2-0 victory over FC Porto, securing 3 points. A win in Linz would see them add another 3 points to their tally.
Recent form and team news
LASK Linz approach the game having drawn 3-3 with TSV Hartberg and lost 2-1 to Sturm Graz in their last two Austrian Bundesliga outings. They lost their opening Champions League match 1-0 to Paris Saint-Germain. Liverpool's last starting lineup, deployed in a 4-2-3-1 shape against City, featured Alisson in goal with a defence of Ronald Araújo, Jacquet, van Dijk and Kerkez. The expected tactical setup points to a Liverpool 4-2-3-1 facing a LASK 3-4-1-2 formation.
The Reds have several players currently sidelined, including Conor Bradley, Federico Chiesa, Hugo Ekitike, Wataru Endo, Giacomo Leoni and Cody Gakpo. Alexander Isak, the team's top scorer this season with four goals, will be a key figure as Liverpool look to reignite their attack. Check the latest availability updates on our injuries section.
After this Champions League assignment, Liverpool's next challenge is a Premier League away game against Brentford, who are currently fourth, on 17 October. The full standings show the scale of the task ahead in both competitions.
Ryan Gravenberch is available for the Champions League trip to LASK Linz, the club confirmed, as his red-card suspension only applies to domestic games. Wayne Rooney criticised the midfielder's dismissal against Manchester City, stating, "It's a bit naive and stupid for that second yellow card." Liverpool, ninth in the Premier League with nine points, are also finalising a new contract for teenager Rio Ngumoha and remain confident of securing his signature.
Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola confirmed his side were hampered by key absences in the defeat to Manchester City. "The absences of Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai because of injuries hampered the home side," Iraola said. The 3-0 loss, which leaves Liverpool ninth in the Premier League, came after Ryan Gravenberch's red card changed the game. The midfielder had started due to Szoboszlai's injury but his dismissal allowed City to score three second-half goals.
The Premier League confirmed Manchester City have appealed the independent commission's verdict on financial rule breaches. The club stated the decision contains "clear material errors" and that they have evidence supporting their position. This followed a hostile atmosphere at Anfield, where 60,000 home supporters booed City's team announcement. Erling Haaland praised his side's character after the 3-0 win, saying, "It was tough, it was hard but we showed amazing character."
