Liverpool qualified for the UEFA Europa League knockout stages with a game to spare after defeating LASK 4-0 on Thursday night.
UEFA Europa League
Result: Liverpool 4-0 LASK
Date: 30 November 2023
Venue: Anfield
Reds coach Jurgen Klopp made nine changes from the draw with Manchester City, as Mohamed Salah and Kostas Tsimikas were the only players to keep their spot in the line-up.
The home side got off to the good start when Luis Diaz opened the scoring after 12 minutes after getting on the end of Joe Gomez's cross to head past LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal.
The lead was doubled three minutes later when Salah turned provider by surging into the box and unselfishly teeing up Cody Gakpo to slot into an empty net.
LASK, meanwhile, had to wait until the 27th minute for the first major opening of the encounter but Robert Zulj dragged his effort wide of the mark after the Reds were caught napping.
It was all Liverpool for the remainder of the half and they were unlucky not to have added a third before the break, with Tsimikas hitting the frame of the goal with a powerful effort.
However, the home side needed six just minutes into the second half to find the third goal when Salah converted a penalty after Gakpo was brought downy Lawal in the 18-yard area.
That proved to be the final involvement for Salah, as the Egyptian forward, Ibrahima Konate and Diaz made way for Curtis Jones, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Darwin Nunez for the final 30 minutes.
LASK did see a bit more of the ball as the second half went on and they had a big chance to pull one back when Ibrahim Mustapha was slipped in on goal, however the striker was denied by by a fine save Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
Nevertheless, the visitors were unable to carve out any more clear-cut openings as the Reds saw out the latter stages with relative ease and bagged a fourth goal in second-half stoppage time when Alexander-Arnold picked out Gakpo, who cut inside before rifling the ball into the far corner to wrap up the win.
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