Liverpool vs LASK preview: team news, lineups, TV, kick-off time, referee & VAR

After a gargantuan clash with Manchester City at the weekend, LASK's visit to Anfield in the Europa League feels like a significant contrast.

The Reds, fresh from an impressive draw at the Premier League champions last Saturday, will move from underdogs to favourites when LASK arrive on Merseyside this Thursday.

Despite the positive feeling around the club after the Man City game, it's worth remembering that Liverpool put in their worst performance of the season in their last Europa League encounter.

The Reds lost 3-2 to Toulouse in controversial circumstances and, while Liverpool should have had a late equaliser in France, Jurgen Klopp was still left mightily unimpressed by his players.

However, Liverpool have won every game at Anfield this season, including Europa League victories against Union Saint-Gilloise and Toulouse.

The Reds also beat Austria's LASK on matchday one, a 3-1 victory courtesy of goals from Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah.

To secure their place in the next round, Klopp's side need to avoid defeat on Thursday, but they will also progress if Union SG don't beat Toulouse in the other group game. To be confirmed as group winners and automatically move into the round of 16, the Reds would need to win alongside Toulouse dropping points.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Liverpool's clash with LASK in the Europa League.

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DATE, KICK-OFF TIME, STADIUM, REFEREE & VAR

• Date: Thursday, 30 November 2023

• Kick-off time: 20:00 (GMT)

• Stadium: Anfield

• Referee: TBC

• VAR: TBC

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD

Liverpool's meeting with LASK in the opening group stage game of this season's Europa League was the first time the Reds have clashed with Thursday's opponents.

As a result, Liverpool have a 100% record against LASK having beaten them 3-1 in Linz back in September. Hopefully, that remains the case come Friday morning.

LASK are the fifth Austrian opponent that Liverpool have faced in competitive games, having only lost once to a team from Austria in the past - Grazer AK back in Champions League qualifying in 2004.

The other Austrian sides that Liverpool have faced are RB Salzburg, Austria Vienna and FC Tirol.

In their five games against English opponents, LASK have only avoided defeat once - a dramatic 3-3 draw with Tottenham back in 2020.

WHERE TO WATCH LIVERPOOL VS LASK ON TV

For those wanting to watch Liverpool's meeting with LASK in the United Kingdom, you'll need to tune in to TNT Sports on Thursday, or you can catch the action on discovery+.

The games is on Paramount+ and ViX in the United States, while Canadian viewers will need access to DAZN Canada.

Austrian audiences will be able to watch the game on Sky Sports.

Match commentary, highlights and full match replay will be available after the game on LFCTV.

LIVERPOOL TEAM NEWS

As has been the case in previous Europa League games, Klopp is likely to rotate his side for the visit of LASK. However, with a win potentially securing top spot in the group - saving Liverpool from playing an extra two games as they would enter the round of 16 automatically - the German may still call in some big-hitters.

There are two injury concerns following the Man City game, with Alisson the most worrying. The Brazilian goalkeeper soldiered on at the Etihad having appeared to pull his hamstring, with Klopp yet to reveal the severity of his problem.

The other potential absentee for Thursday's encounter is Diogo Jota. The Portuguese was substituted during the clash with Man City after pulling up injured, with no further information yet provided by the club on the extent of his issue.

While Caoimhin Kelleher and Luis Diaz were likely to feature against LASK anyway, Klopp will be hopeful Alisson and Jota can return swiftly.

Thiago, Stefan Bajcetic and young Conor Bradley remain sidelined.

LASK TEAM NEWS

Thomas Sageder will be without centre-back Philipp Wiesinger, midfielder Ebrima Darboe, winger Adil Taoui and striker Tobias Anselm.

However, only Darboe featured against Liverpool in the reverse fixture, coming on with ten minutes remaining in Linz.

PREDICTED LINEUP

It's difficult to predict the exact make-up of Klopp's Liverpool lineup against LASK, but there should be plenty of changes from the Man City game with Fulham at Anfield on Sunday.

Jarell Quansah should return to the backline after some impressive Europa League performances and he will likely partner Ibrahima Konate. Joe Gomez might feature at right-back, while Kostas Tsimikas could be favoured at left-back despite playing against Man City.

Ryan Gravenberch will likely get some minutes in midfield given Curtis Jones started at the weekend, as will Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.

Cody Gakpo could be partnered by young Ben Doak on the right-hand side and Luis Diaz on the left.

(4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Gravenberch; Doak, Gakpo, Diaz. 

PREDICTION

The Reds need to bounce back from the defeat in their last Europa League game, with Klopp's fringe players needing to prove they're  better than their performance in France.

However, with the support of the Anfield crowd, Liverpool should enjoy a fairly comfortable evening on Thursday.

Despite the Reds having conceded in three of the four Europa League matches this season, Liverpool should have more than enough attacking firepower to put LASK to the sword.

Prediction: Liverpool 3-0 LASK