Liverpool are back in Europe as they prepare to face LASK in their first Europa League clash since 2016.
The Reds have dropped out of the Premier League’s top four for the first time in Jurgen Klopp’s full season in 2022/23 and will play their first match in UEFA’s second tier since reaching the final in Basel in 2016.
LASK are top of Group E after their second place finish and are likely to present Liverpool’s toughest test on paper at this stage of the competition.
Here are 10 things you need to know before the Europa League kicks off.
1. Injury:
Neither is likely to play on Thursday night, but Trent Alexander-Arnold and Thiago were absent from training as the squad completed preparations.
Stefan Bajcetic will be hoping to get his first minutes in a red shirt since making the Spain U21 squad during the break in March.
2. History beckons for the boss
Three points in Austria would take Klopp up to a milestone of 50 wins in Europe with the Reds.
Should he do it, he would become the first Liverpool manager to reach that tally, overtaking Rafa Benitez who also sits on 49 victories.
3. Opposition insight
LASK qualified for the Europa League by finishing third in the Austrian Bundesliga last season and beating Zrinjski 3-2 in the qualifying round in August.
In the 2020 competition, they faced Man United, losing 7–1 on aggregate after the coronavirus pandemic forced a five-month gap between the two legs.
4. A purple kit debut
Liverpool confirmed earlier this week that they will wear their new purple third kit for the first time when they face LASK on Thursday night.
The Austrian team’s white home kit would match Liverpool’s white and green away shirt, meaning the Europa League tie is a good opportunity to give fans their first glimpse of the purple shirt.
5. Two first starts?
Both Ben Doak and Ryan Gravenberch will see themselves in the starting lineup for the Reds for the first time.
Doak made five appearances from the bench last season and made the season opener at Stamford Bridge, but is still selected by the manager from the first whistle.
Should the Scot play, he would become the fourth European player to play for Liverpool after Phil Charnock, Raheem Sterling and Michael Owen.
6. All change since Basel
Both Ben Doak and Ryan Gravenberch will see themselves in the starting lineup for the Reds for the first time.
Doak made five appearances from the bench last season and made the season opener at Stamford Bridge, but is still selected by the manager from the first whistle.
Should the Scot play, he would become the fourth European player to play for Liverpool after Phil Charnock, Raheem Sterling and Michael Owen.
7. A chance for those on the periphery?
It’s hard to gauge how strong Klopp will be in his squad choices having been out of contention for so long, but he has plenty of options.
8. Opposition danger man
Robert Zulj should be careful on the other side of the field, as the LASK skipper has already scored five goals and provided four assists this season.
The attacking midfielder scored 12 goals and provided four assists in 2022/23 when he arrived from Ittihad Kalba last summer and looks to be in rich form going into this one.
9. Di Bello in the middle
Marco Di Bello will take charge of Liverpool for the first time in Thursday’s Europa League opener.
The Italian referee is assisted by Michael Fabbri from the VAR room, a man who has also never faced the Reds.
10. Follow the match with us.
If you find yourself on the go or need a little bias, you can join us on the This Is Anfield live blog of the match, which you can access on our website just before kick-off.
The next trip to Europe is calling, get up rednecks!
