Match report as Liverpool reached the Europa League last-16 stage with a 4-0 win over LASK; Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo scored inside the first 15 minutes before Mohamed Salah’s 199th Liverpool goal secured the result; Gakpo added a Liverpool fourth in injury-time.
In making it 10 wins from 10 games at Anfield this season, the Reds scored two quick-fire goals in the opening 15 minutes as Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo both fired in from close range, before Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty – his 199th goal for Liverpool – made it 3-0 after the break.
Salah was taken off shortly after his goal, meaning he will have the chance to reach a double century of goals for the club when his side host Fulham on Sunday afternoon. There was time for Gakpo to score an injury-time fourth after a stunning pass from substitute Trent Alexander-Arnold.
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Liverpool have qualified for Europa League with a game to spare as Toulouse’s draw with Union Saint-Gilloise means Jurgen Klopp’s side have secured top spot in Group E, which puts them straight into the last-16 round instead of a February play-off for finishing in second place.
While the Europa League is one step down from Europe’s elite club competition, the Champions League, Klopp said Liverpool were determined to go as far as possible in the competition.
“Unfortunately, my career is not like this where I can choose, to be honest. I have to take what I get,” he added.
“When we play the competition it’s the most important competition on the planet. Easy as that. But now we play Premier League on Sunday and so that is then the most important competition, definitely.”
They conclude their Europa League group stage campaign with a trip to Union Saint-Gilloise on December 14.
Source : SUPERSPORT
