Lask v Liverpool: Champions League – live

Lask’s hosts have some luck and some misfortune ahead of this one, and Liverpool’s rotation is the story.

TEAM NEWS

Iraola has rested several first-choice players. Van Dijk, Kerkez, Mac Allister and Munoz are all on the bench, with Saturday’s trip to Brentford in mind.

Lask are without their star winger Moses Usor, who isn’t in the squad at all. He came on during the weekend’s 2-0 loss to Rapid Vienna but was pulled off again after only 12 minutes.

Left-back George Bello also got hurt in that game, so Yvan Dibango starts at left wing-back.

LINE-UPS

Lask (5-3-2): Jungwirth; Jorgensen, Mbuyamba, Alemao, Andrade, Dibango; Danek, Bogarde, Schopf; Lang, Adeniran.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Araujo, Jacquet, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Nyoni; Barcola, Wirtz, Ngumoha; Koumas.

Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany).

BACKGROUND

Liverpool’s only earlier visit to Lask came in the 2023 Europa League, when Klopp fielded a mostly reserve side. Lask led at the break and Núñez levelled from the spot, but Liverpool only took control after the hour, once Szoboszlai and Mac Allister came on. Díaz put them ahead, and Salah, also a late sub, made it 3-1.

Almost none of that group is still around, whether through departures or injuries. Iraola is expected to name a much stronger side this time. He can’t afford a slip, and Lask have improved, having won the Austrian league last season for the first time since 1965. With Isak, Gakpo and Szoboszlai, his top three scorers, all missing, he needs his best available players on the pitch.

Wirtz and Barcola in particular need to find form if Liverpool want Champions League football next season. Barcola has no goal or assist in six games since his £123m move from PSG, and hasn’t won the ball in the final third. Iraola has said he backs the pair, each a £100m+ signing.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Christoph Lang has five goals in eight league games this season, a hot start Liverpool should be wary of.

Usor led the club in both goals and assists during last year’s double-winning campaign and scored on his Nigeria debut during the recent international break. He had been a doubt before being ruled out.

Melayro Bogarde, nephew of ex-Ajax, Barcelona and Chelsea defender Winston Bogarde, is a key presence at the base of Lask’s midfield.

An intriguing kick-off at 5.45pm BST for an intriguing match-up. And one that Liverpool should not take lightly.