There is something therapeutic about a European away trip coming immediately after a brutal domestic afternoon and for Liverpool it was on Sunday.
Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City at Anfield was a hard pill to swallow for every Liverpool fan.
The red card for Ryan Gravenberch at 0-0 turned the match on its head, and the fiery tunnel exchanges that followed only added fuel to an already simmering fire. But with four matches crammed into ten days, there is no time to nurse a hangover.
Liverpool make the journey to Austria to take on LASK at the Raiffeisen Arena on Wednesday evening.
Having kicked off their Champions League league phase campaign with a gutsy 2-1 comeback win against Atlético Madrid at Anfield last month, Andoni Iraola’s side will look to make it six points from six.
Yet as the travelling Kop descends on Linz, the conversation isn't just about getting three points it’s about how an injury-hit Liverpool squad will navigate a early kick-off with a makeshift frontline.
How to watch
- Date & Kick-Off: Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 5:45 PM BST (6:45 PM local time in Austria)
- Location: Raiffeisen Arena, Linz
- UK TV Channel: TNT Sports 2 (coverage starts from 5:00 PM BST)
- Live Stream: Discovery+ / HBO Max app (UK)
- US Broadcast: Paramount+ and TUDN
- Canadian Broadcast: DAZN and Fubo TV
For those working the usual 9-to-5, UEFA's early European kick-off slot means an early dart from the office might be required on Wednesday evening.
Key context behind the 5:45 PM BST kick-off
- UEFA scheduling format: Under UEFA’s current broadcast distribution model for the 36-team league phase, matches are split across two distinct time slots on matchdays: two early fixtures at 5:45 PM BST (18:45 CEST) and seven prime-time fixtures at 8:00 PM BST (21:00 CEST).
- Local time difference: Austria is one hour ahead of British summer time (BST).The match kicks off locally at 6:45 PM CEST at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, making it an early evening fixture for local supporters and a late-afternoon broadcast for fans back in the UK.
Recent form
LASK
The Austrian champions reached the league phase in breathtaking fashion, pulling off a miraculous comeback from 4-0 down on aggregate to dump Celtic out 5-4 in the qualifiers.
However, their form since has plummeted. They opened their European phase with a 1-0 defeat to AEK Athens and followed it up with a 2-0 defeat against Rapid Wien over the weekend extending a four-match winless streak in which they failed to register a single shot on target.
LASK currently sit with just one point from six in their domestic run and haven't won any of their last nine matches at European level.
Liverpool
The Reds find themselves in 9th position in the Premier League table after six matches, taking nine points so far. While domestic consistency has proven tricky during this transition period, Liverpool's European pedigree remains formidable.
The Reds have won 19 of their last 22 matches in Champions League group/league phase history and will look to build on their opening matchday win over Atlético.
Suspension & injuries
The medical room at Kirkby has been working overtime following October's international break.
Liverpool
- Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexander Isak & Cody Gakpo: The primary headlines revolve around the missing trio. Isak (thigh) and Gakpo (ankle) picked up injuries on duty for Sweden and the Netherlands respectively. Szoboszlai suffered a hamstring "overload" that sidelined him on Sunday. None of the three travelled to Austria.
- Long-term absentees: Hugo Ekitike (Achilles), Conor Bradley (knee), and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) remain out.
- Unregistered stars: Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are not included in Liverpool’s registered Champions League squad for the first half of the season.
- Suspension boost: Ryan Gravenberch, sent off against City, is available to play against LASK because domestic suspensions do not apply in UEFA competition. He will serve his one-match ban away at Brentford on Saturday.
LASK
The hosts suffered a double injury blow during their weekend loss to Rapid Wien, losing left-back George Bello and attacker Moses Usor. They are also without Cheikne Kebe, Art Smakaj, and Ramiz Harakate.
Team news
With key attackers missing, Iraola’s starting lineup will take on an unfamiliar look.
Gravenberch is almost certain to start in midfield alongside 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, allowing Alexis Mac Allister a well-earned rest. In attack, the spotlight falls squarely on Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola, who will be expected to lead the line alongside Victor Muñoz, Lewis Koumas, or 18-year-old prospect Rio Ngumoha.
Youngsters Jayden Danns, Wellity Lucky, and Josh Sonni-Lambie have all traveled with the 23-man squad and provide options off the bench.
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson Araújo - Jacquet - Van Dijk - Tsimikas Nyoni - Gravenberch Muñoz - Wirtz - Ngumoha Barcola
What both managers have said ahead of kick-off
Addressing the media in Linz, Andoni Iraola acknowledged the necessity of shuffling his pack given the physical demands on his squad:
"It’s always difficult to win in this competition. It’s going to be difficult to name the same starting XI tomorrow."
On the other side, LASK's management will be looking for a standard-setting European response following domestic disappointment, aiming to exploit Liverpool's depleted attacking ranks in front of a packed home crowd.
The fan verdict & prediction
Liverpool beat LASK 3-1 in Linz during the 2023-24 Europa League group stage before cruising to a 4-0 win at Anfield. While a blowout scoreline feels unlikely given the current squad depth, the Reds possess far too much European authority for an out-of-form LASK side.
Expect a gritty, professional performance where Iraola's side control tempo through Gravenberch and Wirtz, edging a 2-1 away victory to keep the Champions League momentum rolling.
Add us as a preferred source on Google