Liverpool destroy Lask

Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool win comfortably 4-0 at home to Austrian side Lask in their fifth Europa League Group stage match

On a cold night in Liverpool, Lask brought 4,000 supporters all the way from Austria for what was really the biggest European adventure of this club’s history. With a squad worth around £25 million they were definitely the underdogs against Liverpool.

Liverpool made nine changes from the team that started against Man City but they still had a strong starting line up with Konate, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz and Nunez all among their top players starting.

Liverpool started off like they meant business after their slip up against Toulouse the last time out in Europe. It did not take them long to get into their stride. After only twelve minutes The Reds broke the deadlock. A great ball in from the right from Gomez was met by Diaz with a great diving header to make it 1-0 to the home side.

Three minutes later Salah was off down the right and sent in a beautiful ball over to Gakpo who could not miss from three yards out to make it 2-0 after 15 minutes.

Liverpool were well on their way to their tenth win in a row at home this season by two goals or more.

It looked like the flood gates were going to open but to be fair Lask got stuck in and stayed solid for the rest of the first half. They broke a few times too just to keep Liverpool back four on their toes.

At the start of the second half Gakpo was played through and the Lask goalkeeper came flying out at his feet, but did not get the ball and Liverpool were awarded a penalty. Mo Salah stepped up and hit his 199th goal for Liverpool to make it 3-0 on the night.

A few minutes later Salah’s night was over as he was subbed off for Nunez. Nunez looked like a man on a mission but as so often for him just when it looks like it is easier to score he hits a post or hits it off the keeper and tonight was no different.

It was left to Gakpo to finish the night off. He got the ball just inside the box and got it on to his right foot and smashed it into the back of the net to make it 4-0 on the night.

It was a little bit harsh on Lask and their sizeable traveling support who never stopped singing from start to finish.

With a draw in France for Toulouse in the other fixture it meant that Liverpool topped the group with a game to guarantees they will be playing in the last 16 in March.

The road to Dublin remains the dream for the final in May and who would bet against them being there in this form.