Liverpool have made four changes for tonight’s Champions League meeting with LASK in Austria, with Virgil van Dijk rested and Trey Nyoni handed a start in midfield.
Andoni Iraola has also brought Jeremie Frimpong, Kostas Tsimikas and Rio Ngumoha into the starting XI for the 5.45pm BST kick-off at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz.
Tsimikas captains the side in Van Dijk’s absence, while Alisson keeps his place in goal. Ronald Araújo and Jérémy Jacquet continue together in central defence, with Frimpong and Tsimikas operating at full-back.
Ryan Gravenberch is joined by Nyoni and Florian Wirtz in midfield. Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas and Bradley Barcola complete Liverpool’s attacking line-up.
Liverpool confirmed starting XI
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Araújo, Jacquet, Tsimikas (captain); Gravenberch, Nyoni, Wirtz; Ngumoha, Koumas, Barcola.
Substitutes: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Chambers, Lucky, Mac Allister, McConnell, Muñoz, Sonni-Lambie, Danns.
Van Dijk rested as Iraola rotates
Van Dijk drops to the bench following Sunday’s 3-0 Premier League defeat by Manchester City, while Alexis Mac Allister, Miloš Kerkez and Víctor Muñoz also make way.
Nyoni gets an opportunity to impress in the Champions League, and Ngumoha returns to the starting side as Iraola looks for greater attacking impact.
Liverpool remain without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai, all of whom missed the City match through injury. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are also sidelined, while Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are not registered for the Champions League league phase.
A chance to respond in Europe
Liverpool arrive in Linz looking to build on their opening Champions League victory over Atlético Madrid and respond to their first Premier League defeat under Iraola.
With a trip to Brentford on Saturday and another European fixture against Villarreal next week, the head coach must manage a demanding schedule without several important players.
LASK, meanwhile, are playing their first Champions League league-phase campaign after winning the Austrian title last season. The hosts lost their opening European fixture against AEK Athens and will be looking to cause an upset on home soil.
The decision to rest Van Dijk is understandable given the fixture congestion, but Liverpool’s younger players must now justify Iraola’s faith. Nyoni and Ngumoha have an opportunity to make their mark, while Wirtz and Barcola will be expected to provide the attacking quality needed to secure another European win.
Kick-off: 5.45pm BST. Venue: Raiffeisen Arena, Linz. UK coverage: Live on HBO Max and TNT Sports from 5.00pm BST.
