Liverpool aims to bounce back from 0-3 as they face LASK in UCL

Liverpool, coached by Andoni Iraola, are looking to move on from their 0-3 home defeat to Manchester City at Anfield as they head to LASK this Wednesday to try to secure their second victory in the Champions League league phase. The English side started that campaign by beating Atlético 2-1 on September 9.

Iraola confirmed to the media that Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai are unavailable. None are dealing with a serious injury, but they are not ready to return yet. The manager also defended Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz, who have been receiving heavy criticism.

On Barcola, signed from PSG for 145 million euros (including add-ons), Iraola said people focus too much on goals and assists, and pointed to a situation where Koumas would have finished “it would have been an assist for Bradley.” Barcola has yet to score or provide an assist in six matches.

Wirtz joined for 125 million euros from Bayer Leverkusen in summer 2025. Last season he delivered 7 goals and 10 assists in 49 games, but this term he has none in seven appearances. In the Premier League, Liverpool sit ninth, 9 points behind City.