Liverpool travel to Austria tonight carrying the bruises from Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City, and with an opportunity to remind themselves that this season still has considerable promise.
Eight matches into Andoni Iraola’s reign, there are encouraging signs. Defensive organisation has improved, resilience has emerged, and the manager has already demonstrated an ability to make difficult decisions. Yet Liverpool remain a collection of attacking talents searching for the understanding that transforms individual quality into collective menace.
Tonight should provide an opportunity to accelerate that process.
LASK deserve respect. Their remarkable Austrian title triumph and emphatic victory over Celtic demonstrate the danger of allowing an underdog to gather momentum. Give their supporters encouragement and an uncomfortable evening could quickly develop.
Liverpool must impose themselves early, dictate possession and play with authority.
Florian Wirtz particularly needs a performance liberated from hesitation. There’s a magnificent footballer in there, increasingly burdened by expectation. Bradley Barcola must rediscover the instinct to attack defenders, while the youthful enthusiasm of Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas offer genuine possibilities.
I would give Trey Nyoni his opportunity alongside Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool need to discover the depth of their resources, especially with Brentford approaching and injuries restricting Iraola’s options.
Patience remains essential with this manager. Footballing identities require cultivation, understanding and repetition. Nevertheless, victories can provide the conviction that accelerates everything.
Liverpool have spent enough matches searching for answers. Tonight, against opponents they should possess the quality to overcome, they must begin supplying a few.
Predicted Liverpool XI:
Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Araujo, Kerkez; Nyoni, Gravenberch; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas.
Score prediction:
LASK 1-3 Liverpool
