Liverpool meet LASK in the Europa League on Thursday, so let’s simulate the match to predict the final result.
Liverpool play their first Europa League game since the heartbreak of the 2016 final on Thursday night when the Reds take on Austrian side LASK.
A lot has changed since Liverpool lost 3-1 to Sevilla in the Europa League final seven years ago, when Jurgen Klopp built a dynasty with the Reds and won every bid for the German. But one trophy that has eluded Liverpool under Klopp is the Europa League and Liverpool now have a chance in 2023/24. to win this trophy.
The Reds, who finished fifth in the Premier League last season, missed out on a Champions League place when Liverpool were drawn in Group E in the Europa League with Union St.Gilloise, Toulouse and Thursday’s opponents LASK. The Reds go into the match in good form after Wolves won 3-1 at the weekend, making it four wins in a row for Klopp’s men.
How would Liverpool fare in their Europa League opener? Wait and see.Â
To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the teams with the latest injuries, transfers and suspensions. FIFA 23 has not been updated with the latest kits or numbers, so both sides are part of the 2022/23 series. We predict that the hosts could use a 3-4-3 formation with: Laiki; Luckeneder, Ziereis, Andrade; Flecker, Jovicic, Horváth, Bello; Ljubicic, Zulj, Havel.
We predict that the Reds can use a 4-3-3 formation with the following line-up: Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Jota.
Liverpool got off to the perfect start in Austria when Darwin Nunez broke the deadlock after four minutes when he hit the post from Mohamed Salah’s equaliser. After the match, the dominance continued, and Klopp’s team took a two-goal lead after just nine minutes. Joe Gomez found himself in attacking positions on the right with several defenders rather than marking the threat of Salah and it worked in the Reds’ favor when Harvey Elliott picked out the defender in space. On the right, Gomez floated a cross into the middle of the box and Diogo Jota deflected the ball unnoticed, sending it into the far side of the goal.
Jota almost scored after another moment as Liverpool continued to dominate the game, but the angle was too tight as the keeper was moved and the striker could only find the side netting. LASK really struggled and the game looked over before half-time when Nunez grabbed his second to make it 3-0 in the 41st minute.
With the Reds sitting in LASK’s half, Salah drifted into the middle and burst into the box. After winning the ball, the Egyptian threw a pass into the path of Nunez and the forward pounced to grab Liverpool’s third. The hosts grew in confidence in the second half as they pushed for a goal and Caoimhin Kelleher was tested on a number of occasions but the keeper was at his best making some impressive saves. LASK failed to find the target and the Reds kept the three points.
