Liverpool began their Europa League campaign with a turnaround 3-1 victory at Linz ASK thanks to goals from Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz and Mo Salah.
2023/2024 UEFA Europa League
1-3
Match Report
Liverpool started slowly and were punished by a clever set-piece routine; Sascha Horvath picked out Flecker on the edge of the penalty area at a corner and after controlling, he powered a superb strike into the bottom left corner.
Nunez headed over as Liverpool looked for an immediate response before he was denied by a sensational save from Tobias Lawal, who shifted across his goal quickly to parry away the striker's header from inside the six-yard box.
But Nunez wasn't to be denied early in the second half. Diaz poked the ball wide from inside the box but won a penalty in the process as he was caught by Philipp Ziereis' attempted block. Nunez stepped up and slammed the spot-kick into the bottom left corner.
Caoimhin Kelleher had work to do in the Liverpool goal, making crucial saves from Elias Havel and then Marin Ljubicic before the visitors went ahead when Gravenberch burst through midfield to receive a pass from Harvey Elliott on the right before delivering a low cross into the middle for Diaz to sweep home.
Liverpool never looked like giving up their lead from there and made sure they would return to Merseyside with a victory when Salah poked home through the legs of Lawal.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
14' GOAL! LASK Linz 1-0 Liverpool (Florian Flecker)
19' CHANCE! Núñez's header over the bar
41' Yellow Card! Elias Havel booked
43' Yellow Card! Stefan Bajcetic booked
44' Yellow Card! R. Zulj booked
56' Penalty Goal! LASK Linz 1-1 Liverpool (Darwin Núñez)
63' GOAL! LASK Linz 1-2 Liverpool (Luis Díaz)
83' Elliott's shot stopped by goalkleeper
88' GOAL! LASK Linz 1-3 Liverpool (Salah)
Line-ups
LASK Linz XI: R. Zulj, Philipp Ziereis, Jovicic, Sascha Horvath, Rene Renner, Felix Luckeneder, Florian Flecker, Andrés Andrade, Tobias Lawal, Elias Havel, Marin Ljubicic
Subs: Jörg Siebenhandl, Thomas Goiginger, Filip Stojkovic, Husein Balic, Ivan Ljubic, Moussa Koné, George Bello, Ebrima Darboe, Maksym Taloverov, Ibrahim Mustapha, Sanoussy Ba, Moses Usor
Liverpool XI: W. Endo, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Kelleher, Konate, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Gravenberch, Elliott, Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak
Subs: Matip, Alisson, Salah, Robertson, Joe Gomez, Jota, Cody Gakpo, Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, Vitezslav Jaros, Jarell Quansah