Liftoff in Linz

I, like many others, had a few doubts seeing that first starting eleven.

Attacking →Attacking ↑

1Alisson

5Jacquet

21Tsimikas

30Frimpong

33Araújo

7Wirtz

38Gravenberch

42Nyoni

29Barcola

67Koumas

73Ngumoha

Shape: 4-2-3-1 New to the XI since SundayBench: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, van Dijk, Kerkez, Chambers, Lucky, Mac Allister, McConnell, Muñoz, Danns, Sonni-Lambie

Source: TheStatsAPI match data (touch locations).

Show the data

#	Player	Avg. position up the pitch (0–100)	Across (0 = right, 100 = left)
1	Alisson	12	47.8
5	Jacquet	35.3	61.7
21	Tsimikas (new)	51.3	79.2
30	Frimpong (new)	54.2	12.7
33	Araújo	42.8	28.6
7	Wirtz	60.8	47.8
38	Gravenberch	52.9	70.8
42	Nyoni (new)	44.3	48.5
29	Barcola	76.1	75.3
67	Koumas	74.8	44
73	Ngumoha (new)	71.6	19.5

With no offense to LASK, this was still a Champions League away match. A Champions League away match after being humiliated at Anfield at the weekend. To see such a rotated side, with Virgil van Dijk rested on the bench for only the third time in Liverpool’s 39 Champions League games since 2022, was unexpected. But, again with no offense, this was LASK. Previously in the Europa League in the 2023 season, Liverpool won both group stage games against LASK 1-3 and 4-0.

The last time Liverpool met LASK

Europa League · Group E, matchday 1

LASK1–3Liverpool

Sept. 21, 2023 · Linz

Flecker 14'

Núñez 56' (pen.), Díaz 63', Salah 88'

33%

Possession

67%

7

Shots

14

2

On target

6

Europa League · Group E, matchday 5

Liverpool4–0LASK

Nov. 30, 2023 · Anfield

Díaz 12', Gakpo 15', 90+2', Salah 51' (pen.)

66%

Possession

34%

24

Shots

7

9

On target

3

Source: ESPN match pages. Neither game has published xG.

Gone are the days of Arne Slot pumping out the same starting eleven every game. Andoni Iraola has a full squad that he intends to use, and one cannot say that he will be disappointed after tonight’s match.

LASK 3, Liverpool 6

Expected goals

3.34–2.02

Shots19–5 in the first half

26–12

Possession

64%

Touches in LASK's boxLASK had 23 in Liverpool's

51

Half-time

0–3

Per Sky Sports, those 19 first-half shots were a new record for an away team in the first half of a Champions League game. And per Opta, it was the highest-scoring European game Liverpool have played since the 2001 UEFA Cup final.

Liverpool26 shots · 6 goals · 3.34 xG

Araújo 22' · Barcola 24', 37', 66' · Frimpong 51' · Koumas 72'

LASK12 shots · 3 goals · 2.02 xG

Ljubičić 63' · Flecker 74', 77'

Goal No goal BarcolaBigger circle = better chance (xG).

Source: TheStatsAPI match data.

Show the data

Team	Min	Player	xG	Result
Liverpool	3	Frimpong	0.02	No goal
Liverpool	6	Koumas	0.02	No goal
Liverpool	11	Wirtz	0.05	No goal
Liverpool	11	Wirtz	0.03	No goal
Liverpool	11	Araújo	0.03	No goal
Liverpool	13	Wirtz	0.07	No goal
Liverpool	18	Araújo	0.13	No goal
Liverpool	22	Araújo	0.07	Goal
Liverpool	24	Koumas	0.06	No goal
Liverpool	24	Barcola	0.13	Goal
Liverpool	33	Wirtz	0.05	No goal
Liverpool	33	Gravenberch	0.10	No goal
Liverpool	33	Jacquet	0.19	No goal
Liverpool	35	Barcola	0.05	No goal
Liverpool	35	Gravenberch	0.08	No goal
Liverpool	37	Barcola	0.48	Goal
Liverpool	45	Wirtz	0.04	No goal
Liverpool	45	Wirtz	0.03	No goal
Liverpool	45	Nyoni	0.03	No goal
Liverpool	51	Frimpong	0.10	Goal
Liverpool	66	Barcola	0.87	Goal
Liverpool	69	Barcola	0.09	No goal
Liverpool	69	Ngumoha	0.05	No goal
Liverpool	72	Koumas	0.53	Goal
Liverpool	81	Muñoz	0.03	No goal
Liverpool	82	van Dijk	0.04	No goal
LASK	5	Daněk	0.12	No goal
LASK	8	Jørgensen	0.04	No goal
LASK	36	Lang	0.06	No goal
LASK	40	Jørgensen	0.07	No goal
LASK	42	Adeniran	0.03	No goal
LASK	49	Lang	0.14	No goal
LASK	61	Daněk	0.02	No goal
LASK	63	Ljubičić	0.12	Goal
LASK	74	Dibango	0.16	No goal
LASK	74	Flecker	1.01	Goal
LASK	77	Flecker	0.15	Goal
LASK	88	Alemão	0.14	No goal

The Good

Bradley Barcola showed why his transfer was worth £123 million. Yes. It is just LASK. But this was the first match where you truly saw the flashy French national. Confident on the ball, taking on defenders, demanding the ball and the attention. This is what Liverpool has been missing since Salah’s departure. Him and Tsimikas linked beautifully along the left wing, while when Barcola drifted into the middle, he and Wirtz were connecting well. Yes, a hattrick against LASK is not the same as one against Manchester City, but it is great to see him open his Liverpool account.

Fewer → more touches Ball action Goal

Goals

3

Shots

5

On target

4

xG

1.50

Take-ons won

5

Touches

47

Source: TheStatsAPI match data

Show the data

Zone	Touches	Share
Defensive third	4	7%
Middle third	8	15%
Attacking third	43	78%

Koumas. Great to see the Liverpool Academy graduate get his first Champions League goal. While his relentless pressing engine has been great, the finishes have been missing. A goal and assist will do much to hopefully bolster that confidence while Isak and Hugo Ekitike remain out.

Fewer → more touches Ball action Goal

Goals

1

Assists

1

Shots

3

On target

1

xG

0.61

Touches

22

Source: TheStatsAPI match data.

Show the data

Zone	Touches	Share
Defensive third	1	4%
Middle third	6	22%
Attacking third	20	74%

Do not fall in love with a loan player. Everyone knows this but I cannot help falling in love with Barcelona reject Ronald Araujo. Another defensively sound performance (this time in the center of the park instead of out wide) and a goal to cap it off.

Rio Ngumoha and Trey Nyoni looking the part. Both young players repaid the trust that Iraola provided with another solid performance. Rio, while still incredibly raw at this time, specifically in his decision making, still creates magic moments out of nothing. Trey Nyoni knowing his role and playing it well in the double pivot with Ryan Gravenberch. His positional awareness allowed Gravenberch to be more expansive and carry the ball. One has to wonder if we will see Iraola trust Nyoni more and more.

The kids, by the numbers

Ngumoha take-ons wonmost of anyone in the match

6

Ngumoha duels won

8 of 12

Nyoni passes completed

83 of 90

Nyoni touches2nd on the pitch

105

Offensive Frimpong. While Jeremie has had a rough start to his Liverpool career, his two assists and goal were definitely great to see. Unfortunately, Frimpong scoring a header does indicate the level of opposition tonight.

Florian Wirtz continues to shine in the Champions League. Yes, a player whose fee could reach £116 million is expected to do more, especially when Manchester City opposite Rayan Cherki continues to dazzle at all levels for £34 million fee. But his quality becomes so obvious in the Champions League when Wirtz has time on the ball. His decision making and execution is there. But he just cannot replicate it on the pitch during Premier League games. It is fair to question when and if he ever adjusts to the pace of the PL, but if he continues to do well in the CL, one has to imagine it will translate soon.

1. 2025-26 Premier League0.30
2. 2025-26 Champions League0.43
3. 2026-27 Premier League0.19
4. 2026-27 Champions League0.50

Source: TheStatsAPI. 2026-27 through Oct. 14 (six PL games, two UCL games).

Show the data

	Goals + assists per 90
2025-26 Premier League	0.30
2025-26 Champions League	0.43
2026-27 Premier League	0.19
2026-27 Champions League	0.50

Wirtz	Apps	G	A	G+A/90
PL ’26	33	5	3	0.30
UCL ’26	11	1	3	0.43
PL ’27	6	0	1	0.19
UCL ’27	2	0	1	0.50

Cherki	Apps	G	A	G+A/90
PL ’26	33	4	12	0.80
UCL ’26	8	3	0	0.68
PL ’27	6	4	2	1.37
UCL ’27	2	0	0	0.00

PL = Premier League, UCL = Champions League; ’26 = 2025-26, ’27 = 2026-27 (through Oct. 14). Source: TheStatsAPI.

The Bad

Defensive Frimpong. It becomes too abundantly clear that Frimpong does not fit a four in the back. This was obvious during his time at Bayer Leverkusen in a system that allows him to shine that he is meant to be a wingback. But he just isn’t cut out for a fullback in a back four. At fault for all 3 goals by relentlessly abandoning his defensive line to play Dibango and others onside for all 3 goals. Losing his ground duels, not being aware. His offensive display greatly outweighed his defensive hiccups, so this is a gentle “The Bad”, but it is worrying that there might never be a place in the starting eleven for the £29.5 million man.

Fewer → more touches Ball action Dibango touch Goal

Goals

1

Assists

2

Key passes

4

xA

0.85

Duels won

2 of 4

Touches

72

Source: TheStatsAPI match data. Dibango’s touches flipped to Liverpool’s direction of attack.

Show the data

Zone	Touches	Share
Defensive third	20	25%
Middle third	30	38%
Attacking third	30	38%

Joe Gomez and Virgil. To be fair to them, swapping both centerbacks mid-match can lead to structural issues. In the grand scheme of things, this isn’t the worst bad ever, as LASK took their chances extremely well with some incredibly tidy finishes.

Liverpool 3.34 xGLASK 2.02 xG

Dots mark goals. Each step is a shot; the bigger the step, the better the chance.

Source: TheStatsAPI match data.

Show the data

Team	Minute	xG	Goal?
Liverpool	3	0.02
Liverpool	6	0.02
Liverpool	11	0.05
Liverpool	11	0.03
Liverpool	11	0.03
Liverpool	13	0.07
Liverpool	18	0.13
Liverpool	22	0.07	Goal
Liverpool	24	0.06
Liverpool	24	0.13	Goal
Liverpool	33	0.05
Liverpool	33	0.10
Liverpool	33	0.19
Liverpool	35	0.05
Liverpool	35	0.08
Liverpool	37	0.48	Goal
Liverpool	45	0.04
Liverpool	45	0.03
Liverpool	45	0.03
Liverpool	51	0.10	Goal
Liverpool	66	0.87	Goal
Liverpool	69	0.09
Liverpool	69	0.05
Liverpool	72	0.53	Goal
Liverpool	81	0.03
Liverpool	82	0.04
LASK	5	0.12
LASK	8	0.04
LASK	36	0.06
LASK	40	0.07
LASK	42	0.03
LASK	49	0.14
LASK	61	0.02
LASK	63	0.12	Goal
LASK	74	0.16
LASK	74	1.01	Goal
LASK	77	0.15	Goal
LASK	88	0.14

As Liverpool sets their sights at an away fixture at the Gtech, it will be interesting to see if this provides the confidence boost needed to rebound off the humiliation at the weekend.