How will Liverpool set up tonight in the Europa League match against LASK? ECHO writers provide their starting lineup forecasts.
Ian Doyle: The Champions League anthem is superior to the Europa League anthem in quality.
However, it is much superior to the Premier League one. And while returning to Europe’s secondary club competition is not a sufficient reason to welcome Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp is right to assert that his team is in it to win it.
And even though there will still be a lot of changes, he should perform admirably this evening in the group opener against LASK here in the Austrian city of Linz.
I would put Caoimhin Kelleher in goal for myself. He ought to at the very least get the ball rolling in some of these games. Because they haven’t played much together, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate should start at center back, leaving Joe Gomez as the only choice for right back and Kostas Tsimikas with a chance to play left back.
Wataru Endo needs a chance to play defensive midfield, while Harvey Elliott, who has been excellent in cameo appearances, deserves to start on the right of the central three and Ryan Gravenberch, who was signed on deadline day, can make his full debut on the left.
Darwin Nunez can start in the middle up front, to the left of Diogo Jota. Mohamed Salah is positioned to the right because everyone knows he will want to play.
The team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Salah, Nunez, Jota.
Theo Squires: Jurgen Klopp appears intent on competing strongly in UEFA’s secondary competition as Liverpool’s Europa League campaign is set to begin at LASK Linz.
Of course, he can still perform well with a rotating lineup, and a trip to LASK Linz would be the ideal opportunity to watch two of the Reds’ summer acquisitions make their debuts. Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch enter the engine room, and Harvey Elliott, who has made some standout substitute appearances, completes the midfield.
After serving his suspension, Virgil van Dijk is back as captain and can be paired with Jarell Quansah, a young player who impressed against Wolves. With Joe Gomez staying at right-back and Kostas Tsimikas coming in as an inverted full-back on the opposing flank, Ibrahima Konate can be held back for West Ham this weekend.
Caoimhin Kelleher makes his first start of the year in goal. The Irishman deserves the chance to play as a first-choice goalkeeper elsewhere and undoubtedly wants to do so. He can compete against them this season in the Europa League in the interim.
Ben Doak, who recently renewed his contract with Liverpool, is given his first start for the team in attack in place of Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian’s firepower shouldn’t be necessary for the Reds to defeat the Austrians, but if they do, he’ll be eager to join the action from the sidelines. In the attack, Darwin Nunez takes the initiative, and Diogo Jota stays in position to the left.
The team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Quansah, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Gravenberch; Doak, Nunez, Jota.
Jim Quinlan: Jurgen Klopp needs to treat the Europa League with the utmost importance because this is as good a chance as any for silverware this season, at least until Sevilla drops out of the Champions League.
Having said that, I believe the boss can win the group with the most points by rotating heavily during this group stage.
I start Caoimhin Kelleher in goal, which is a bold move this early on, but if we advance to the final, I believe he should continue to be the top choice throughout the competition. It is the least he should receive for continuing to support the team this summer.
Returning to the starting lineup, Ibrahima Konate and Jarell Quansah should be placed in between Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas as the two wide defenders. After his suspension, Virgil van Dijk would be a strong candidate, but the 20-year-old performed too well for Wolves to be left out.
The midfield should be made up entirely of Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, and Ryan Gravenberch, giving each player a crucial opportunity while Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis MacAllister can take a break.
Ben Doak is the first assured starter in the attack, giving Mohamed Salah a break, and Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota round out the trio.
The team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Quansah, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Nunez, Jota.
Brendan McGilligan: Jurgen Klopp faces some difficult choices as Liverpool travels to Linz to begin their Europa League campaign. However, a challenging Premier League matchup against West Ham awaits on Sunday.
With that domestic match in mind, the German may decide to rest a few players.
Caoimhin Kelleher will almost certainly start in goal for the defense, and Joe Gomez will continue to play right-back in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s absence. In order to give them playing time after missing games for various reasons, Virgil Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate should both return to the starting lineup. Andy Robertson should be replaced by Kostas Tsimikas.
You should give both Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai a break in the middle of the field. Having impressed as a substitute against Wolves the previous weekend, Ryan Gravenberch would start his first game for the Reds alongside Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott.
Diogo Jota can remain in the attacking three while Ben Doak, 17, can finish off his week with his first start of the season after signing a new long-term contract, as a reward for his dangerous performances thus far this season. Darwin Nunez can continue to play in the attacking three. If needed, Mohamed Salah can enter the game from the sidelines.
The team (4-3-3): Kelleher; Gomez, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Endo, Elliott, Gravenberch; Doak, Nunez, Jota.