Linz offers Liverpool a quick change of scene on Wednesday, only three days after Manchester City left Anfield with a 3-0 win. Andoni Iraola’s side arrive in Austria needing a response in the Champions League league phase, where their opening night brought a 2-1 victory over Atlético on 9 September.
The news from the club
Liverpool will again be without Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai. Iraola confirmed that the trio, absent against City, have not yet recovered sufficiently to return, although none is dealing with a serious injury.
The Liverpool coach also used his pre-match press conference to support Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz, both of whom have faced criticism during an uncomfortable start to the campaign.
Barcola joined from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer for €145 million including bonuses, but has yet to register either a goal or an assist across six Liverpool appearances. Iraola insisted the Frenchman’s contribution should not be reduced to those numbers, pointing to a recent move in which a Lewis Koumas finish would have been credited as a Barcola assist.
“He is a quality player, he plays well and brings a great deal,” Iraola said. “At times, we focus too much on goals and assists.”
Wirtz, signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025 for €125 million, is likewise still searching for the form that made him such a force in Germany. He produced seven goals and 10 assists in 49 matches last season, but has no goals or assists in seven outings so far this term.
Iraola, who succeeded Arne Slot, said he had complete confidence in both players. “We know the level they have, and they will certainly perform well,” he said.
A demanding night in Linz
Liverpool are ninth in the Premier League, nine points behind leaders Manchester City, making their European trip another important chance to steady the season. A second Champions League win would ease the immediate pressure after the Anfield defeat.
LASK have troubles of their own. The Linz club lost 2-0 to Rapid Vienna on Sunday, with Rapid leading the Austrian league by five points. Their Champions League campaign began with a 1-0 defeat to AEK Athens on 8 September, so Wednesday’s match brings two sides looking to repair an early setback.
