Liverpool Triumphs 3-1 Over LASK Linz in Europa League Opener

 Liverpool Triumphs 3-1 Over LASK Linz in Europa League Opener

Florian Flecker of LASK during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 group stage match between LASK and Liverpool FC on September 21, 2023 in Linz, Austria.(Image-Getty)

In their opening Europa League Group E match, Liverpool faced an early challenge but ultimately triumphed with a 3-1 victory against Austria's LASK Linz on Thursday.

Liverpool, returning to the Europa League after their last campaign in 2015-16, which ended in a 3-1 final loss to Sevilla, struggled in the first half against a determined LASK side, who were making their third appearance in the Europa League group stage.

LASK, currently holding the third position in the 2022-23 Austrian Bundesliga, stunned Liverpool by taking a surprising 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. Winger Florian Flecker delivered a remarkable goal by connecting with a corner kick and blasting it past Liverpool's goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.

Liverpool had a golden opportunity to level the score in the first half when Darwin Nunez attempted a close-range header, but his effort was thwarted by an alert save from LASK's goalkeeper, Tobias Lawal.

However, Nunez managed to bring Liverpool back into the game after halftime. He calmly converted from the penalty spot after Liverpool was awarded a penalty when winger Luis Diaz was fouled inside the box.

Diaz then propelled Liverpool into the lead in the 63rd minute with a close-range strike, capitalizing on a brilliant cross into the middle of the box by Ryan Gravenberch. Substitute Mohamed Salah sealed the victory for Liverpool with a low strike inside the far post just two minutes from the final whistle.

In the other Group E match, last season's quarter-finalists, Union Saint-Gilloise, salvaged a 1-1 draw at home against Toulouse.

Bayer Leverkusen wasted no time, scoring two goals within the first 16 minutes to defeat Swedish champions Hacken 4-0 in their home match. Meanwhile, AS Roma, the runners-up for the 2022-23 season, secured a 2-1 win at Moldova's Sheriff Tiraspol, with a goal from Romelu Lukaku.

Panathinaikos, the second-place finisher in the Greek Super League last season, surprised the 2020-21 winners Villarreal with a 2-0 victory.

Stade Rennais got off to a strong start as midfielder Ludovic Blas found the net in the first minute, helping his team secure a comfortable 3-0 win against the visiting Israel champions, Maccabi Haifa.