Liverpool’s rare visit turns Linz into a Champions League showcase

At the Linzer Stadion, the buzz is palpable as supporters gather for what the club’s coach calls an "absolute highlight" – a Champions League duel against Liverpool on the second matchday of the group stage, broadcast live at 18.45 on Canal+.

Coach Kühbauer’s realistic optimism

LASK head coach Dietmar Kühbauer, 55, reminded fans that "Liverpool does not come every week" and stressed that his side are clear outsiders against the twenty‑time English champions who have lifted the trophy six times. Yet he urged belief, saying the next game is "always the next chance to do better" and that the Linzer must seize something extraordinary.

Right‑back Kasper Jörgensen, who describes the encounter as "the biggest game of my career", echoed the sentiment, adding that the team knows its own capabilities and harbours no fear.

Injury woes on both sides

Liverpool head into the match with a spate of absences: Isak and Dominik Szoboszlai (both thigh), Cody Gakpo (ankle), Luis Bradley and Stefan Leoni (both knees) and Amine Ekitike (Achilles) are all sidelined. Despite the depleted roster, nine Liverpool players still command market values above the entire LASK squad.

LASK also face setbacks. Forward Moses Usor, the club’s most valuable player at €8 million, suffered a shoulder injury against Rapid and is expected to miss the fixture. The team’s overall market value stands at €62.4 million.

Liverpool impose their domination on LASK in Linz

Historical context and recent form

The clubs met in the 2023‑24 Europa League group stage, with LASK losing 1‑3 at home and 0‑4 away; Florian Flecker scored the solitary Linzer goal in the first leg and remains in the squad alongside four other 2023‑24 players.

Since their last victory on 5 September in the Austrian Cup, LASK have endured a four‑match winless run – three defeats and one draw – a slump not seen since winter 2024. They sit third in the Austrian Bundesliga, five points behind leaders Rapid.

Liverpool, under 44‑year‑old coach Andoni Iraola, suffered a 0‑3 defeat to Manchester City, their first loss in eight games under the Spaniard, and sit ninth in the Premier League after a mixed run of results. In the Champions League they opened with a 2‑1 home win over Atletico Madrid.

Liverpool denies LASK in Linz a big sensational upset

Kühbauer, who marked exactly one year as LASK’s manager, boasts a record of 27 wins, seven draws and six defeats from 40 league games, including a league title and cup triumph last season.

Both sides know the stakes: a win for LASK could spark a revival, while Liverpool aim to prove their depth despite injuries and restore confidence after a disappointing domestic showing.