Liverpool match verdict as Ian Doyle reports on the opening Europa League group game away to LASK
For almost an hour here in Austria, Jurgen Klopp’s side appeared very much one that wanted to be anywhere but back in the Europa League. Unrecognisable in their new third kit of all-purple, their unfamiliar surrounds looked almost as alien as their line-up with the Reds boss, having said he wasn’t going to use the competition to give opportunities to fringe players, proceeding to make 11 changes.
Ultimately, the gulf in quality and strength in depth of Liverpool – who were watched by chairman Tom Werner – proved the difference, along with superior fitness levels as Klopp celebrated becoming the first Reds manager to earn 50 victories in European competition. There were further positives with Stefan Bajcetic, after a troubling opening half-hour, benefiting from a first appearance in six months albeit at right-back, while Ben Doak was afforded a full debut to become Liverpool’s fourth-youngest player to feature in Europe after Phil Charnock, Raheem Sterling and Michael Owen.
Endo struggled, while fellow summer signing Gravenberch’s encouraging showing was brought to a premature end by cramp. Liverpool looked too often slow in thought and body, and struggled to get out of first gear. But while Van Dijk needed to make a good block to deny Ivan Ljubicic, the home side were more promise than actual threat.
And they were ahead seven minutes later with a fine team move. Nunez was the initiator, keeping hold of substitute Joe Gomez’s punt forward to the halfway line and finding Elliott, who instantly sent Gravenberch scurrying down the right. The Dutchman then swept in a low cross that invited Diaz to finish emphatically.
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