Liverpool came from behind to secure a comfortable win 3-1 against LASK Linz on Thursday, their first appearance in the Europa League in eight seasons. After falling behind 1-0 at halftime to a magnificent strike from Florian Flecker, Luis Daz inspired Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed side in Austria. The Colombian attacker, one of 11 changes to Liverpool’s 3-1 Premier League victory over Wolves on Saturday, won the penalty after a foul by Philipp Ziereis.
Darwin Nunez scored from the penalty spot in the 56th minute to tie the game, before Daz scored seven minutes later when he cleverly turned in a fantastic low pass by Ryan Gravenberch. Gravenberch was making his full debut for the club after joining from Bayern Munich in the summer, while Klopp also gave 17-year-old Scottish winger Ben Doak his first start in a Liverpool shirt.
Gravenberch was pulled out in the second half due to injury, but his replacement, Mohamed Salah, secured the three points for the visitors in the 88th minute when he finished following fine work by Nunez. Liverpool was back in Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time since Klopp’s first season at Anfield, after finishing fifth in the Premier League and failing to qualify for the Champions League last season.
Last season’s quarter-finalists Union St.-Gilloise secured a 1-1 home draw against Toulouse in the other Group E match. Meanwhile, West Ham United fought back from a goal down to secure a 3-1 win over TSC Backa Topola in a Europa League Group A match on Thursday.
West Ham was unable to break the deadlock before halftime despite dominating ball possession and 15 efforts in the first half against tournament debutants playing European football for the second time. Things became even worse for the hosts after the half when midfielder Petar Stanic took advantage of a defensive blunder by West Ham and scored on a single run. Backa defender Petrovic, however, failed to safeguard their lead when he scored an own goal in the 66th minute before West Ham midfielder Mohammed Kudus scored with a header and replacement Tomas Soucek sealed the victory.
Ajax Amsterdam squandered a 2-0 lead at home to draw 3-3 with Olympique de Marseille, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scoring twice for the visitors. Brighton & Hove Albion won 3-2 at home against Greek champions AEK Athens after converting two penalties. Rangers defeated Real Betis 1-0, thanks to a second-half goal by Senegal forward Abdallah Sima.
