Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp made a surprising move by fielding an entirely revamped lineup for the Europa League clash in Austria. Klopp’s decision saw 11 changes to the starting lineup, including some unexpected faces.
Stefan Bajcetic returned to action for the first time since March, filling Trent Alexander-Arnold’s role as an inverted right-back. Youngsters Ryan Gravenberch and Ben Doak earned their maiden starts, and Caoimhin Kelleher took his place between the posts. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet.
The reshuffled team didn’t always gel seamlessly, and this led to an early setback as the hosts found the net in the 14th minute. Miscommunication in midfield resulted in a corner and a stunning strike from the opposition.
This marked the fourth out of six games this season where Liverpool conceded the opening goal, a worrying trend for the team.
Liverpool’s frustration grew as they struggled to find their rhythm and accuracy, compounded by some contentious referee decisions. However, they were far from faultless in this regard.
The second half brought a resurgence for Liverpool, although they seemed hesitant to take shots initially. Their fortunes changed when Luis Diaz won a penalty, allowing Darwin Nunez to level the score with a comfortable conversion.
Klopp made substitutions at the hour mark, bringing on Joe Gomez, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai for Bajcetic, Wataru Endo, and Doak.
Just two minutes later, Liverpool took the lead with a brilliantly executed play. Harvey Elliott and Gravenberch combined on the right flank, setting up Diaz for a first-time finish, which was nothing short of exquisite.
However, Liverpool suffered a setback when Elliott had to leave the field due to cramps, marking his first start since joining the team.
Notably, Mohamed Salah couldn’t let the opportunity pass without making his mark. He added to his impressive goal tally with a superb finish through the goalkeeper’s legs, marking his 42nd goal in European competitions for the club.
In the end, it might not have been a flawless performance, but Liverpool secured the victory with a dominant second half, earning their first three points in the Europa League this season.
