Jurgen Klopp’s team are already a formidable proposition
Sophia Edwards Liverpool 2.0 is mirroring the new Anfield Road stand. Not quite complete but already a towering and formidable presence.
Ten home games this season have yielded as many wins and 31 goals, the so-called work in progress continuing with the haste of a Mohamed Salah sprint.
Jurgen Klopp is hesitant about suggesting the team’s redevelopment is ahead of schedule. Publicly, at least. He must be invigorated seeing his side restoring its sheen after last season’s rustiness, their Anfield form as spectacular as at any point in his reign. This Liverpool team is the first to win each of its first 10 home games since Kenny Dalglish’s double winners in 1985-86.
Given those to come here in December and January - Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle United arrive after Fulham this weekend - maintaining the citadel will be the key to keeping Liverpool in the title race into the New Year. If their 100 per cent record is extended that far, the possibilities will seem endless.
The Europa League may not be the competition in which Klopp sought to re-energise, but Liverpool are tournament favourites with good reason, LASK the latest to suffer in the wake of sheer attacking power.
An inexplicable blemish in Toulouse aside, Liverpool have eased to the knockout phase as group winners with a game to spare, their Austrian visitors blown away within 51 minutes as Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Salah ensured there will be no jeopardy in the final group fixture.
True though it is that third gear was an optional extra given the gulf in class, there should be no flippancy about the manner in which authority is being reasserted. Lest we forget it is only 12 months since many presumed the Klopp empire to be in the process of crumbling, or certainly in need of more than one season to fully repair.
Now he has the pedigree to spare.
Klopp made nine changes to the side which drew at Manchester City. It made no difference.
Salah took his personal Liverpool tally to 199, his second half penalty ensuring he has either scored or assisted in 16 consecutive home games. The Egyptian has long been in ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ territory in pursuit of the double century.
Liverpool’s midfielders, meanwhile, found the volume of space and time more accommodating than Doctor Who’s TARDIS, and with more clinical finishing would have doubled the final tally of four.
There is competition for starting positions which even the first incarnation of Klopp’s Liverpool lacked. The front three was set in stone when Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino were Salah’s allies. Not now.
Gakpo was a certain starter when he signed after last December’s World Cup. He might be back on the bench this weekend despite two clinical goals because Darwin Nunez has made the number nine role his.
As well as scoring, Gakpo earned the spot kick from which Salah edged closer to his landmark. Gakpo added the fourth injury time, the only surprise being it took so long.
Similarly, Ryan Gravenberch is a captivating watch. Among the most enduring images of Liverpool’s draw with City last weekend was the sight of Gravenberch skipping away from Rodri in the build-up to Trent Alexander-Arnold’s equaliser.
LASK’s diligent midfielders were never going to keep pace with the galloping Dutchman on the many occasions he found his stride.
The Europa League looked like a useful stepping stone back towards the elite when Liverpool began this campaign. It may yet come to represent their best chance of silverware.
“My career is not like that I choose. I take what I can,” said Klopp.
“When we play it is the most important competition on the planet. We want to go as far as possible.”
Suffice to say, Klopp will be eying more than one trophy if his ability to rotate the side with minimal impact on attacking panache remains intact.
Finishing in the top four was the first priority four months ago. With each dominant home victory, Klopp’s immediate objectives are ascending in synchronicity to that new stand.
Liverpool brush LASK aside - as it happened
Topping the group with a game to spare means...
...that Liverpool now don’t need to worry about this competition until March - just what Klopp would have wanted.
Klopp building Liverpool 2.0?
They looked good tonight, and didn’t really get out of second gear. The personnel has changed but it looks as though the German is building something again at Anfield.
Here's Gakpo's second and Liverpool's fourth
Cody Gakpo talks to TNT Sports
On the win and whether Liverpool could have score more...
“Yes, we started well and could have scored more. It was a good win.”
On him having a few chances...
“Yes [I could have got a hat-trick]! If it was up to me I would have scored all the chances but I [had to settle for] two.”
On the atmosphere...
“It’s amazing when you score here.”
On topping the group...
“It’s important. We should be top with the quality that’s well done. We keep going.”
On Liverpool winning all 10 of their home matches this season...
“That’s a good record, we just keep going and win as many as possible. With our quality we can win a lot of games.”
As it stands...
Liverpool top the group and are through to the last 16. That’s because Toulouse and Union are drawing...final whistle yet to come in that clash, however.
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 4-0 LASK
And that is that - all pretty academic once the hosts went 2-0 up early on. But LASK were enterprising and entertaining and deserved a goal.
GOOOOOOAAAALLL!
Liverpool 4-0 LASK
Gakpo scores his second and wraps up the game.
Liverpool build up down the right. The ball comes to TAA who shocks absolutely no one as he plays a delightful ball to the Dutchman who takes a touch before cutting onto his right and firing past Lawal.
90 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
There will be four minutes of added time.
88 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
The LASK fans are still in fine voice, it;s been freezing all night but they’ve not stopped all game- they’re my man of the match...
86 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
This match is meandering to a close...calling it now, there will be no more goals (remember, I am usually wrong...).
83 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Free-kick for LASK, Horvath takes and there’s mild panic in the Liverpool box but none of the visitors can get a decent touch (Zulj tries a backfoot flick...) and the hosts eventually clear.
80 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Ten minutes to go - any more goals left in this match?
More changes for the hosts - the two youngsters Bradley and Chambers are on for Gravenberch and Tsimikas.
77 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
More enterprising play from LASK and Usor is at the heart of it, he wins a corner for the Austrians in front of their raucous fans. Can they give them something to cheer from the set piece? The answer is a big, fat ‘nearly’. The delivery goes long and LASK are are patient before the ball comes to the ever-impressive Usor just inside the box, the Nigerian gets his shot away forcing Kellehar into a good save.
Said it before and am about to say it again, LASK deserve at least a goal tonight, for their enterprise if nothing else.
75 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
As with the first half this 45 has gone a bit flat. Still think there’s at least another goal left in the game, however...
70 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Another good chance for LASK who have deserved a goal tonight. It’s a four vs three as Horvath plays in Flecker but he dwells on the ball way too long when he should have really put his boot through the ball. The chance again comes to nothing. Their fans are still in good voice but LASK’s attack should have given them a goal to cheer as well.
67 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
A decent half chance for the hosts again sees Tsimikas at the centre of it, this time he enrages Klopp as his cross is neither here nor there...should have done much better.
64 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
It’s all Liverpool at the moment, they’re passing the ball well and are patient but there’s more than a hint that they known they’ve won the game.
Typical, as I type that, LASK break down the left and Zulj crossing low, Bello gets the ball and should do better as Kellehar comes off his line and saves well.
62 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Half an hour to go and there’s nearly a fourth as Tsimikas drives into the LASK box before hitting the ball across the six-yard box but Nunez cannot get on the end of it.
58 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Nunez nearly makes an instant impact as his shot on the turn in the box is brilliantly saved by Lawal, who moments early had saved well with his legs from an Elliott attempt.
55 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
There will be no 200th Liverpool goal for Salah as he’s one of a trio to make way with Klopp ringing the changes.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez come on for Konate, Diaz and the Egyptian King.
53 mins: Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Trent AA looks as though he’s about to come on, Liverpool not taking their foot off the gas then...
Meanwhile, LASK work an opportunity really well with Zulj and Bello combining well before Ljubicic fires well over the bar. The Austrian outfit have looked impressive tonight but lacked the quality in the final third.
GOOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!
Liverpool 3-0 LASK
Who else but Salah would you expect to take the spotkick? The Egyptian King slots the ball home into the bottom right corner of the net to score his 199th Liverpool goal - useful.
Penalty for Liverpool!
Gakpo is in the box and looks as though he’s unsure what to do, he overhits it to himself forcing Lawal off his line, the LASK keeper though brings the Dutchman down and the ref points straight to the spot.
47 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
An early hint of an opportunity for Salah as the Egyptian waltzes into the box, however, he cuts back onto his left and dinks the ball into the six-yard box. The danger is cleared only for a moment though as Gakpo strikes from distance, the ball deflecting for a corner. Can Liverpool make this count? ‘No’ is the long and short of it. Bright start, however, from the hosts.
45 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
They’re back under way at Anfield - how many more goals left in this game? I am going to plump for three...(I am usually horribly wrong...).
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
There will be no added time - when was the last time that happened? - perhaps it’s too cold to play a few extra seconds?
It looked early on as though Liverpool would fill their boots at 2-0, but the expected goals haven’t materialised and LASK have more than played their part, refusing to sit back and accept their fate.
43 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Elliott again plays in Salah and this time Salah hits this shot with his more trusty left peg. The shot is, however, more a back pass than potential netbuster and Lawal in the LASK goal isn’t really troubled.
42 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Lovely ball over the top for Salah who takes the ball into the box before a shot-cum-cross that neither threatens the net or to reach Gapko at the back post.
41 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Gomez tries his luck from distance, the ball going past the left upright.
40 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
No shock but Liverpool have played nearly double the number of passes as their opponents (277 vs 139).
As I type Diaz is through on goal he takes an age to get the shot way, but it wouldn’t have counted as the Colombian was offside.
37 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
This match is a bit flat - Liverpool, you suspect, already have the game won, and LASK haven’t the quality to put some doubts in the minds of their hosts.
No chances to speak of over the past five minutes or so.
35 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
The LASK fans are still in good voice, determined to enjoy their trip to one of the great European stadiums regardless of the result.
32 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Free-kick for Liverpool 25 yards out on the left. Elliott has a go but it’s wide and quite a limp effort.
30 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Tsimikas near scores his first goal for five and a half years and what a goal it would have been. The ball lands at the feet of the Greek full back and he decides to let fly, the attempt slamming into the crossbar that is probably still shaking, such was the ferocity of the shot.
How Diaz opened the scoring
28 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
LASK break again thanks to a quickly taken free-kick. Usor has the freedom of Anfield but plays a poor ball into the centre. Another decent position comes to nothing for the enterprising Austrians.
24 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Corner for the visitors (their third so far) - can they make this count? They very nearly do. They go short before the ball is played in to the near post where Zulj fires just wide...it would, however, not have counted as the ZASK man was offside.
The jump of joy
20 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
LASK have shown plenty of ambition, particularly Usor who looks lively, and have put the hosts’ defence under pressure but just lack the quality to make it count and get a shot in on goal. The flip side of that is that they do look so open at the back and Salah will be licking his lips about perhaps reaching 200 tonight.
16 mins: Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Not exactly sticking my neck out but this is game over already.
Liverpool look as though they will score with every attack this could become a cricket score.
GOOOOOAAAAAAL!!
Liverpool 2-0 LASK
Gakpo makes in two in two minutes. LASK had a decent attack that ran out of steam before Liverpool attack down the right with Salah. The Egyptian crosses for Gakpo, he and Diaz are neat and play the ball back to Salah who drives towards the six-yard box, the ball then breaks for Gakpo who taps in from all of two yards.
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLL!
Liverpool 1-0 LASK
Diaz opens the scoring with a well worked goal. The hosts work the ball from the left to the right with the goalscorer finding Gomez on the right. The Colombian makes a late run into the box and Gomez’s cross finds Diaz’s head and the attempt gives Lawal no chance in the LASK goal.
10 mins: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
Gakpo is played in in the inside-left channel in the box, his first touch isn’t great and the ball gets stuck underneath him explaining why the shot goes well over the bar. Better from the hosts.
8 mins: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
Liverpool haven’t got out of first gear yet and Lawal in the KASK goal is yet to make a save.
As I type Elliott has a stop in the box well blocked. At the moment it’s the LASK fans making more noise.
6 mins: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
Gakpo, Diaz and Salah exchange passes in the area before running out of road. LASK then counter at pace down the left with Zulj and Bello, they do well to earn a corner. Liverpool clear the danger from the set piece.
Another sign that the visitors haven’t just come to sit back and defend.
4 mins: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
Liverpool yet to really get going, one or two passes have gone astray, early days yet, though.
2 mins: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
Early bright move from the Austrians as they play some short, incisive pass in the final third but the final ball is overhit and Kelleher collects. Early enterprise, however, from the visitors.
1 min: Liverpool 0-0 LASK
They’re under way at Anfield, Liverpool in their famous all-red outifit and LASK in a predominantly white number with a few black stripes.
One thing to look out for is that Salah needs 2 two more goals to make it 200 for the reds.
The teams are out on the pitch
And we’re moments away from kick-off.
Liverpool have played nine times at Anfield this season and won all of them. LASK are up against it tonight.
Jurgen Klopp speaks to TNT Sports - 'Have to work hard'
“This will be a big step tonight, create an atmosphere on the pitch and in the stands...we have to work hard, play football. The last few games we did lots of good things but we weren’t as as good as we could be. We have to defend properly, LASK do good stuff and we have to put them under pressure and make sure we win the game.”
'He churns out the games'
‘He’s incredible, he’s a machine.’ Michael Owen on TNT Sports talking about Mo Salah, who is only one of two players to be retained from the weekend.
On a night like tonight warms up are VERY key...
Meanwhile in Helsinki...
Aberdeen’s match against HJK has temporarily been stopped because the travelling fans are throwing snowballs at the hosts’ keeper...
As with all the European nights
This match will be shown live on TNT Sports. Hosted by Laura Woods the channel has picked up the baton from BT Sports and given us more Ally McCoist, which is never a bad thing.
Our very own Jeremy Wilson spent two days with Woods and Co to see how the shows are produced.
READ: I spent two days behind the scenes with TNT Sports – this is how it really works
In the early kick-offs
It is currently...
AEK Athens 0-1 Brighton
&
Backa Topola 0-0 West Ham
If they stay as they are that means Brighton would go top of their group, and West Ham would drop to second in Group A.
Here’s how Brighton took the lead.
João Pedro makes no mistake from twelve yards 🎯
The Brazilian is oozing confidence in front of goal scoring his 5️⃣th goal of this Europa League campaign!#UEL
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 30, 2023
Here are the two teams in black and white
LIVERPOOL XI TO FACE LASK: Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Konate, Tsimikas; Endo, Gravenberch, Elliott; Diaz, Salah, Gakpo Subs: Pitaluga, Van Dijk, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Mac Allister, Jones, Matip, Chambers, Gordon, Doak, Alexander-Arnold, Bradley
Jurgen Klopp was expected to make a few changes but perhaps not as many as the nine he has made tonight. Kostas Tsimikas and Mohamed Salah are the only men to keep their place from the starting XI that drew 1-1 with Man City on Saturday. Caoimhin Kelleher starts in goal as expected with Alisson out injured. The bench is impressive so in the case of a shock the cavalry can come on and help out.
LASK XI TO FACE LIVERPOOL: Lawal; Ziereis, Andrade, Talovierov; Stojkovic, Horvath, Ljubic, Bello; Zulj; Usor, Ljubicic Subs: Siebenhandl, Renner, Kone, Balic, Jovicic, Mustapha, Havel, Ba, Goiginger, Flecker, Luckeneder, Darboe
Here's the Liverpool XI
Liverpool out to seal the deal
Hello and welcome to coverage of Liverpool’s Europa League group-stage match against LASK at Anfield.
The Premier League side will be hoping to bounce back from defeat to Toulouse earlier this month and seal qualification for the knockout rounds. A win would ensure Liverpool’s progress to the last 16 and put them in pole position to finish top of the group with one more match to play.
“We are in the beginning of the most intense period of the whole season. We play now Thursday-Sunday, it’s super tough,” Jurgen Klopp said.
“What we have to have tomorrow is an atmosphere...we have to make sure that this is a European night and that is what I expect us to do – a proper European night at Anfield, really going for it. I will line up a team with fresh legs who want to go for it, enjoy the game and will really fight for a result.
“If Anfield wants to do that as well, that would be massively helpful. We have to show that Anfield is a wonderful place to come, but also a horrible place to come in the same moment.”
Klopp will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker and winger Diogo Jota, who both suffered knocks during a 1-1 draw with Manchester City on Saturday.
“Both are out. With Alisson it is a bit lesser so we will have to see,” Klopp said. “He’s not going to play Thursday or on Sunday, probably not the week after, then he could be kind of OK, but Diogo will take a little bit longer. We don’t know exactly how long but it is a bit more serious.”
Alisson’s absence means Caoimhin Kelleher will take his place in goal.
“He would have played anyway and deserves his opportunity to get a few more games and hopefully he can show his full potential,” Klopp added.
