UEFA Champions League 26/27 · Round 2 ·
LASK Linz vs Liverpool FC preview: LASK host Liverpool in a meeting of contrasting early form
Liverpool arrive at the Raiffeisen Arena as the market's clear favourites, priced at 77% to win. LASK's home scoring record is the sharpest contrast in the data, but it rests on a single league match.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Who is missing
LASK are without forward Samuel Adeniran, listed as an injury. The home side's unavailable list stops there, so no leading scorer is removed by that absence. Liverpool's list is longer, with defenders Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni plus forward Hugo Ekitike all ruled out through injury. None of Liverpool's three absentees appears among their top scorers this season, so the away side's attacking options are unchanged.
Players to watch
Liverpool's early goals have come from midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai each scoring once in their single league match. Between them they account for all of Liverpool's goals in this competition so far. LASK have no top scorer listed in the payload, which leaves their attacking threat unnamed for this section.
Form guide
Liverpool's last six league matches show one win and no defeats, while LASK's record is one loss. That is a thin sample, with each side having played only one league match. LASK's recent results across all competitions show three wins, one draw and two losses in their last six, while Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six with four wins and two draws. Both sides last played 24 days ago, so neither has a freshness edge.
Where they stand
Liverpool sit 13th with 3 points from one match, while LASK are 27th with 0 points from one match. Liverpool's home record is one win from one, and LASK's away record is one loss from one. LASK have yet to play at home this season, so their home record is empty. Liverpool have yet to play away, so their away record is also empty.
Head to head
These clubs have met twice, both in 2023, and Liverpool won both meetings. The aggregate goals were 7 to Liverpool and 1 to LASK, with an average of 4.0 total goals per meeting. The most recent meeting was a 4-0 Liverpool win, but it was not in this competition. With only two meetings and none in this competition, the history is thin and dated.
Attacking threat
Liverpool's away scoring rate is 2.0 goals per match, level with the league average of 1.92. LASK's home scoring rate is 0.0 goals per match, which is worse than the league average and a large gap. The attack edge is clearly with Liverpool, whose figure is far closer to the league norm. LASK's own recent home form is stronger, with 3.2 goals per match in their last five at home, but that is a small sample.
Defensive solidity
Both sides concede 1.0 goals per match in their relevant venue, which is better than the league average of 1.92 and a clear improvement. The defence edge is level between the two teams. LASK's recent home record shows 0.4 goals conceded per match in their last five at home, while Liverpool's recent away record shows 1.8 goals conceded per match in their last five away.
Shot volume
Liverpool average 7.0 shots on target per match, slightly more than LASK's 6.67. LASK average 8.33 shots off target per match, more than double Liverpool's 4.0. Both sides average 5.0 blocked shots per match. Liverpool also hold a small possession edge at 45.0% to LASK's 43.67%.
When goals arrive
LASK's peak scoring band is the 46th to 60th minute, where they have scored 40% of their goals. Liverpool's peak scoring band is the 31st to 45th minute, where they have scored 50% of their goals. LASK are most vulnerable in the 16th to 30th minute, conceding 60% of their goals there. Liverpool's conceding distribution is concentrated in the 16th to 30th minute as well, with 100% of their conceded goals in that band.
Goal environment
Liverpool's single away match this season went over 2.5 goals, and their first half went over 1.5 goals. LASK's single home match this season went under 2.5 goals, and their first half went under 1.5 goals. LASK failed to score in 100% of their home matches this season, while Liverpool failed to score in 0% of their away matches. Liverpool's attacking share is 66.67% of the goals in their away matches.
What to expect
Liverpool are the clear favourites, with the market pricing them at 77% to win. LASK's home scoring record is the weakest part of their profile, but it rests on a single match. The totals market leans slightly under 3.5 goals. Liverpool's recent away form is strong, with two wins and a draw in their last three away matches.