Short but sweet would be Liverpool’s preference for their return to the Europa League and an assured start was made with victory over Lask in Austria. Another comeback was necessary but, that minor inconvenience aside, this was a performance that again demonstrated the options and quality available to Jürgen Klopp.
Victory was Klopp’s 50th in Europe, the most by a Liverpool manager in the club’s illustrious history, and the fifth in succession this season by a team that is developing nicely. And rapidly. Lask took an early lead and played high on adrenaline until confronted by a commanding second-half Liverpool display that brought goals from Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah. The Austrian side had no answers once Núñez levelled from the penalty spot and an uncertain opening 45 minutes from the visitors in Linz was long forgotten by the time Salah nutmegged the goalkeeper Tobias Lawal for Liverpool’s third.
