Three big names left behind in Linz

Andoni Iraola heads into Wednesday's Champions League fixture against LASK without three of his most influential players. Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have all been ruled out of the trip to Austria, adding to what is already a significant injury list for the Liverpool manager to contend with.

The reasons behind each absence are now well established. Isak picked up a thigh problem whilst on international duty with Sweden, Gakpo suffered an ankle injury during the Netherlands' fixtures, and Szoboszlai is dealing with a hamstring complaint. All three were missing for Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at home to Manchester City, and none have recovered in time to make the journey to Linz.

That trio joins long-term absentees Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines, leaving Iraola with a notably thin pool of senior options to draw from. Matters are complicated further by Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa being ineligible, as neither has been registered in Liverpool's Champions League squad for this stage of the competition.

Academy youngsters step into the void

With the senior ranks stretched, Liverpool have turned to their Academy to fill out a 23-man travelling party. Centre-back Wellity Lucky and forward Josh Sonni-Lambie have both been included in the squad, with the pair having previously represented the club in the UEFA Youth League. Lucky also made his senior debut in the League Cup last season, so this is not entirely uncharted territory for him.

Jayden Danns, James McConnell and Luke Chambers round out the additional cover. Danns and McConnell were last seen in European action for Liverpool when they started the 3-2 defeat at PSV Eindhoven in January 2025, while Chambers' most recent continental outing came in the Europa League loss at Union Saint-Gilloise in December 2023. These are players who know what it means to wear red in Europe, even if experience at this level remains limited.

Left-back Milos Kerkez was among those who fronted the pre-match press conference alongside Iraola. On new attacking arrival Florian Wirtz, Kerkez offered an encouraging assessment of the connection that is beginning to develop. "He showed at PSG he has great skills and can help us a lot," Kerkez said. "We just have to talk more and build that connection more and it will help us get a better combination down the left."

What a result here would mean for Liverpool

Despite the disruption, the incentive in front of Liverpool is a significant one. The Reds won their opening Champions League fixture against Atletico Madrid on Matchday 1, and a victory in Austria would place them in an excellent position in the league phase standings. Turning around the mood after Sunday's heavy defeat would be no bad thing either.

Liverpool do have history at this ground to draw on. Just over three years ago they won 3-1 at the same venue in the Europa League group stages, coming from behind to run out comfortable winners. The context is different now, the squad is thinner, and the pressure of expectation sits differently on a side chasing Champions League progress rather than simply rebuilding. Whether Iraola's patched-together group can deliver the result the club needs will tell us plenty about the depth he has managed to cultivate.