0:4 – Liverpool was so beautiful and terrible for LASK

You just have to acknowledge it: Liverpool FC and LASK – they are simply two different football worlds. The result was 0:4 (0:2), in which LASK were bitterly punished by the stars at Anfield Road for their courageous offensive performance in the first half. The only positive aspect: After the x:x in the parallel game between Toulouse and Saint Gilloise, LASK is still in third place – and therefore an overwinter in the Europa Conference League is possible.

In the end, the announcements from both coaches arrived. “We have to show that Liverpool is wonderful and terrible,” Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp announced before the game. It was so nice when the LASK players stepped onto the pitch in the stadium at Anfield Road and, driven by the unique atmosphere, immediately established themselves in the opponent’s half of the game – without properly finishing off their own, dangerous attacks.

And it was so terrible when, after 15 minutes and two very clean attacks from the hosts, the game was already lost with a score of 0:2, even though it hadn’t really started yet.

First, Liverpool’s top star Mohammed Salah ducked cleverly. Luiz Diaz got a header – and gave LASK keeper Tobias Lawal no chance (12th). Salah played the assist again for four minutes – and helped Cody Gakpo score his first European Cup goal for Liverpool. The second strike came in stoppage time (92′).

At the beginning there was hope because Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp had swapped nine players compared to the 1-1 draw against Manchester City. “I need fresh legs and hot games. I would also field this team in the Premier League without hesitation.”

Unfortunately, top star Mohamed Salah was not among the nine missing players. After his two assists in the first half, he scored the third goal himself. Goalkeeper Tobias Lawal – who otherwise played a top game – came too late against Diaz in the penalty area. The penalty was clear, Mohamed Salah was ice cold when he converted it to make it 0-3 (50th). This finally turned the match into a better training game, with LASK coach Sageder making four changes after an hour. Bitter: With a quarter of an hour to go, Ibrahim Mustapha had to leave the field injured. At this point, LASK would have at least deserved the consolation goal. Before that, Mustapha (66th) had missed LASK’s best chance, then Kone failed (75th).

LASK needs Liverpool’s help

In the end all we could look at was the result in the parallel game between Toulouse and Saint Gilloise. The 0:4 makes the starting position for LASK clear: with a final win against Toulouse, a draw for Liverpool in Belgium would be enough for Linz to slip into third place ahead of Saint Gilloise thanks to the direct duel. So there will be a real final in the Raiffeisen Arena in 14 days – with the hope that Liverpool will perform as confidently as yesterday despite having already won the group.