Liverpool vs LASK Prediction: Reds to power past Austrians in pursuit of top spot

Liverpool's flawless start to their Europa League campaign was wiped out with a 3-2 defeat in Toulouse earlier this month, and that result sees their clash with LASK at Anfield on Thursday evening (20:00) take on greater significance.

The Reds are still top of Group E but their lead has been cut to two points, while there is still a scenario where LASK, bottom of the table, can catch Jurgen Klopp's side.

To do that the Austrian side will need to pick up all three points on Merseyside, and they can take confidence from the reverse fixture in Linz, where they were in the lead for nearly half of the game.

Team News

Liverpool's defeat in France has left them requiring a point to confirm qualification from the group, and they need a victory to have a chance of securing first place - which would see them avoid the knockout round play-off - before matchday six. Therefore, Klopp is expected to name a strong starting XI, with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai among the big-name stars who could begin the game.

Caoimhin Kelleher is likely to keep his place in goal, though, with Alisson injured, while Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo should all start after being benched for Saturday's 1-1 draw at Manchester City.

Adil Taoui and Philipp Wiesinger have been out injured for a considerable period of time for LASK, and the duo will miss out once again this week, as will on-loan Roma midfielder Ebrima Darboe.

Match Odds

Liverpool are heavy favourites (1/9) to win at fortress Anfield, where they have won all nine games this season. LASK are 20/1 to be the first team to win there since Real Madrid in February, while the draw can be backed at 8/1.

Both teams scored in the reverse fixture and it's 5/4 for it to happen again, while a repeat of the 3-1 in favour of the Premier League club is 10/1.

Luis Diaz to score anytime @ EVS

The Colombian started Saturday's draw with City on the bench but he was the first attacker Klopp turned to in an attempt to change the game. He looks a certainty to start on Thursday and is in decent goalscoring form, finding the net on his return to the side at Luton earlier this month before making himself a hero in Colombia with a double in a win over Brazil.

Diaz has only started twice in the Europa League but one of those games, away to LASK, saw the 26-year-old score, and he looks likely to play a significant part of the game whereas Salah could be taken off early if Liverpool go a few goals up.

Liverpool to win both halves @ 5/6

Finding value on the result here is a difficult one with Liverpool - understandably - huge favourites to blitz past their opponents. They've already beaten Union Saint-Gilloise 2-0 at Anfield, while Toulouse were battered 5-1 at the same venue.

Both of those games saw the Reds win both halves, so backing them to do so for a third consecutive European home game looks like one of the best plays.

Klopp's side raced into a ninth-minute lead against Toulouse and ended the half 3-1 up before adding another two goals in the second. It took longer to make the breakthrough against Union Saint-Gilloise, with Gravenberch scoring in the 44th-minute and Jota finding the net in second-half stoppage time, but the three-time UEFA Cup winners have won both halves in six of their nine home games in 2023/24.

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