Liverpool are set to travel to Raiffeisen Arena to take on Austrian Bundesliga side LASK in the Champions League tonight.
Having endured a dire campaign last term, the Reds have decided to start a new era under Andoni Iraola. However, they have displayed inconsistent performances thus far this season, accumulating nine points from six Premier League matches.
The Merseyside club will be coming into this game off the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the league last weekend. But they won the opening Champions League encounter against Atlético Madrid last month.
On the other hand, LASK started the new season promisingly but have been winless in the last four matches across all competitions. They even lost the opening Champions League fixture against AEK Athens.
Team news
Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai enjoyed a bright start this season, but the trio isn’t in contention to be involved tonight due to their respective fitness problems.
On the other hand, Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined owing to their long-term injury issues. Furthermore, Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo haven’t been registered to play in the Champions League; therefore, they aren’t available for this game.
Predicted line-up
Alisson Becker is set to keep hold of his place in goal. Therefore, Giorgi Mamardashvili would have to make do with a place on the bench. Virgil Van Dijk and Jeremy Jacquet are expected to be the centre-back partnership for the visitors tonight.
Ronald Araujo should continue in the right-back position, while Milos Kerkez would be on the opposite side. Therefore, Jeremie Frimpong and Kostas Tsimikas would be among the substitutes.
Ryan Gravenberch displayed an impressive performance vs Man City, although he picked up an unfortunate red card. So, he might be in the defensive midfield position, and Alexis Mac Allister might be alongside the Dutchman in the engine room.
Florian Wirtz should be in the creative midfield position despite displaying average performances this season. On either side of the German, Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, valued at around £34m by Transfermarkt, may start on the flanks.
Amid Isak and Ekitike’s absence, Lewis Koumas is likely to lead the line for the Merseyside club. Therefore, Rio Ngumoha might feature as a substitute.
Expected Arsenal line-up vs LASK
Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Barcola, Koumas, Muñoz
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