After four successive wins in the Premier League, the attention turns to Liverpool’s first UEFA Europa League fixture of the season – Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub or LASK.
There were many positives that Jurgen Klopp can carry into Thursday’s meeting.
Jarrel Quansah proved that he is more than capable of playing at the highest level, Cody Gakpo found his scoring touch again, and Ibrahima Konate made his return from injury.
The 24-year-old centre-back missed the victories against Newcastle United and Aston Villa before the international break after suffering a hamstring issue.
Konate should be ready for the clash against LASK.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is currently recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained during the game against Aston Villa.
He was unavailable for England during the international break and likewise did not make the matchday squad against Wolves on the weekend.
However, there is a positive with the right-back reportedly pictured wearing boots at the AXA Training Centre according to the Liverpool Echo.
Speaking in his pre-match conference on Friday, Klopp explained Alexander-Arnold’s situation as quoted by the Echo:
“He didn’t train with the team once yet and will take a little bit.”
“It is not the worst hamstring injury, but it’s a hamstring injury, and they barely heal in two weeks,” Klopp told reporters on September 15.
“He is running already; we hope he can start ball work early next week.”
Thiago Alcantara has not featured for Liverpool since May and is waiting for his first Premier League appearance in five months.
The Spaniard is a doubt for the Europa League contest in Austria and will probably not travel with the squad.
Virgil van Dijk was forced to watch the team from the bench as he served his two-game suspension for his conduct at St James’ Park.
The skipper has now completed the ban after Wolves on the weekend and could play against LASK on Thursday.
The Dutchman will also be in contention to play against West Ham United on Sunday.
LASK are currently 3rd in the Austrian Bundesliga, five points behind league leaders RB Salzburg.
Jurgen Klopp will know that complacency could be a problem, so Liverpool should focus on getting a positive result.
