PREDICTED LINEUP : Liverpool lineup against LASK: Gakpo in for Nunez; Alisson, Jota miss out

PREDICTED LINEUP

Cody Gakpo will replace Darwin Nunez when Liverpool welcome LASK to Anfield in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.

Liverpool have picked up three wins from four group matches and they will look to pick up a comprehensive victory when they play hosts to LASK at Anfield on Thursday night.

The Reds are coming into this game on the back of a fighting draw against Manchester City. And they will be reasonably confident of grinding out all three points against the Austrian side. Liverpool are likely to rotate their squad heavily in the midweek.

Meanwhile, first-team players like Diogo Jota and Alisson Becker will miss out as they nurse their injuries. Both players picked up knocks against Manchester City and they are unlikely to be risked here. Jurgen Klopp provided an update on the duo during his pre-match press conference

“Both are out,” said Klopp before adding, “With Ali it’s a bit lesser, so we have to see – not day by day, he will not play tomorrow, not on Sunday, probably not the week after. Then it should be kind of OK. Diogo will take a little bit longer, we don’t know exactly how long, but it’s a bit more severe. We have to see.

Long-term absentees Thiago Alcantara, Andrew Robertson, and Stefan Bajcetic are sidelined as well. Meanwhile, the Reds are likely to shape up in their usual 4-3-3 formation against LASK, with Caoimhin Kelleher in goal.

Joe Gomez and Kostas Tsimikas will be deployed as the full-backs, and they will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch. Joel Matip will start at the heart of the Liverpool defence alongside Jarell Quansah.

Wataru Endo is likely to be handed a start here as the defensive midfielder. The Japanese international will look to break up opposition attacks and protect the defenders. Harvey Elliot and Curtis Jones will start as well. The two players will look to add creativity and control to the side.

Finally, Cody Gakpo will lead the line for Liverpool against LASK, replacing Darwin Nunez as the central striker. Ben Doak and Luis Diaz will be on either side of the Dutchman, meaning Mohamed Salah will get some well-earned rest..

Predicted Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Gomez, Matip, Quansah, Tsimikas; Elliott, Endo, Jones; Doak, Gakpo, Diaz