Moments you may not have spotted during Liverpool’s Europa League clash with LASK on Thursday

Liverpool got their Europa League campaign off to a winning start by coming from behind to triumph at LASK on Thursday.

A belter from Florian Flecker put the hosts in front early on only for the Reds to storm back in the second half with a Darwin Nunez penalty, Luis Diaz and substitute Mohamed Salah earning a 3-1 victory.

The result means Jurgen Klopp’s men have extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games after a strong end to last season.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at the Raiffeisen Arena.

Klopp unhappy

It wasn’t quite a Wolvesesque first-half showing from Liverpool, as Klopp was keen to point out to his players at half-time. But there was still reason for the Reds boss to be irked.

Jurgen Klopp showing his appreciation to the fans at the end of the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 group stage match between LASK and Liverpool FC on September 21, 2023 (Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
LASK had an opportunity to double their lead when Marin Ljubicic had a shot blocked by Virgil van Dijk. Klopp, though, was livid what appeared a foul by the home player on Ibrahima Konate in the build-up went unpunished, and made his feelings clear to the fourth official.

Konate, meanwhile, was so irked that, after not being given another foul shortly afterwards, he was booked for complaining. Steady on, Ibou.

Gravenberch embrace

This was a landmark evening for a pair of Liverpool players, with teenage winger Ben Doak and deadline-day signing Ryan Gravenberch both making their first starts for the club.

Hearts, though, were in mouths when Gravenberch went to ground inside the final 20 minutes before hobbling off around the perimeter of the pitch.

Thankfully, cramp turned out to be the issue. And the Dutchman even surprised Klopp when finally reaching the dugout by giving the Liverpool boss a friendly hug that was instantly reciprocated.

Szoboszlai gesture

Dominik Szoboszlai may have only been on the pitch barely half-an-hour but that was enough time in which to further underline his importance to this Liverpool team.

And as the Reds celebrated after the final whistle, there was a reminder of the midfielder’s past with LASK rivals Red Bull Salzburg, with some home fans firing a few words in his direction.

Szoboszlai responded with an intriguing gesture of his own before heading off down the tunnel. It all seemed fairly friendly enough, mind.

LASK party on

Fair to say this was perhaps the biggest game in the history of LASK, with their new Raiffeisen Arena – which only opened in February – absolutely bouncing throughout the game.

Fireworks, banners, songs and chants were the order of the day, with the sell-out home crowed determined to enjoy themselves.

And that extended until well into the evening, with what appeared a disco taking place behind the main home end hours after the game had finished. They know how to party.