Liverpool secured their spot in the Europa League last 16 on Thursday night with a convincing 4-0 victory over LASK at Anfield. The win, coupled with a draw between Toulouse and Union Saint-Gilloise in the same group, ensured that Liverpool not only progressed with a game to spare but also guaranteed them the top spot in the group, allowing them to bypass the first knockout round.
The scoring commenced in the first half with Luis Diaz netting his fourth goal of the month, followed swiftly by Cody Gakpo extending the lead. In the second half, Mohamed Salah added to the tally with his 199th goal for Liverpool from the penalty spot, and Gakpo sealed the victory with a fourth goal in stoppage time.
LASK initially approached the game with a fearless attitude, attempting to take the fight to their more renowned opponents. However, their lack of quality in the final ball hindered their efforts. Diaz capitalized on a well-placed cross from Joe Gomez to head Liverpool into the lead. Gakpo then tapped in a cross from Salah to double the advantage.
Get Instantly Update By: Joining Our Whatapps and Telegram Channel
Despite Liverpool’s dominance, there were moments of brilliance from LASK goalkeeper Tobias Lawal, who made crucial saves to prevent the scoreline from escalating further. Salah converted a penalty early in the second half after Lawal’s rash challenge on Gakpo.
In the closing stages, Gakpo, determined to add to his goal tally, found the net in stoppage time with a right-footed shot after an assist from Trent Alexander-Arnold. The comprehensive victory showcased Liverpool’s strength and depth as they look ahead to the challenges in the Europa League knockout stages.