LASK vs Liverpool: Preview, team news, h2h as Usor and Ngumoha lock horns

Liverpool go back to Champions League action on Wednesday night, as they take a trip to the Raiffeisen-Arena in Linz to handle Austrian giants LASK, in a video game where 2 gamers of Nigerian origin, who have actually picked various global profession courses will satisfy.

Amongst the names in the Reds’ taking a trip celebration is 18-year-old winger of Nigerian and Guadeloupean descent Rio Ngumoha, who has actually turned into one of Iraola’s the majority of relied on broad choices this season. On the Austrian side, Moses Usor– who made his Super Eagles launching scoring versus Madagascar just last month– has actually been dismissed through injury, leaving LASK without among their more vibrant forward alternatives.

LASK vs Liverpool: Form guide

Liverpool have actually published a blended however eventually favorable start to the 2026/27 project. Andoni Iraola’s side sit ninth in the Premier League after 5 matches– 3 wins, one draw, one defeat– and opened their Champions League journey with a Matchday 1 win. Assaulting firepower is plentiful throughout the team, though the Reds have actually yielded in 4 of their last 5 components throughout all competitors, recommending a backline that LASK will intend to make use of on the break if they can win ownership in harmful locations.

LASK show up in poorer shape. Klaus Kuhbauer’s side have actually lost 3 of their last 5 competitive matches, drawing one and handling just a single win– versus Blau-Weiss Linz– throughout that run.

Their record in the Champions League heading into this component uses little convenience: 9 successive beats in the competitors, a streak covering previous project looks that reveals the scale of the job they deal with. The Austrian side will require to produce among their finest European efficiencies to take anything from this match.

LASK vs Liverpool: Head-to-head record

These 2 clubs recognize challengers from the 2023/24 Europa League group phase, where Liverpool won convincingly on both celebrations. The very first conference– played in Linz in September 2023– saw the Reds originate from a level position to win 3-1, with LASK briefly competitive before Liverpool’s quality informed in the 2nd half. The return at Anfield 2 months later on was more emphatic– a 4-0 Liverpool triumph that successfully ended the Austrian club’s involvement because stage of the competitors.

LASK handled a single objective throughout both legs– one from their home video game, none at Anfield. A combined 7-1 aggregate leaves very little analytical support for the home side heading into Wednesday, and the Liverpool team Andoni Iraola has actually put together represents an upgrade in numerous positions on the 2023/24 design that caused those beats.

Secret fights

Rio Ngumoha, Moses Usor– The Nigerian connection

Rio Ngumoha was born in Havering, London, in August 2008, and holds Nigerian citizenship through his moms and dads together with his Guadeloupean heritage. He relates to his Nigerian side despite the fact that he snubbed the Super Eagles. Previously this year, he even shared a video of himself wearing an old Super Eagles jersey.

⚽ Rio Chimankpam Ngumoha uses Nigeria’s renowned 1996 jersey. The 17-year-old Liverpool aggressor is qualified to represent England, Nigeria, France, and Guadeloupe https://t.co/gn9rvI4I9K– PARROT REPORT (@PARROTREPORT) May 15, 2026

The 18-year-old has actually gotten into Liverpool’s senior setup with genuine conviction signing up 29 looks in 2025/26, consisting of 3 successive Premier League begins before completion of the season, and a senior England launching in June 2026 that brought him 3 caps for the Three Lions. He is now an acknowledged first-team alternative for Iraola instead of a development-track addition. Ngumoha gets in major factor to consider for a large beginning berth along with Bradley Barcola.

Moses Usor is a various proposal. The LASK winger signed up with the club in 2024, and he has actually ended up being a crucial gamer for them, contributing 24 objectives and 19 helps in 118 looks throughout all competitors. He began his profession from Nigeria, so he is well grounded in the nation unlike Ngumoha, who was born abroad.

His LASK efficiencies made him a first Super Eagles call-up last month, and he got a dream launching, scoring versus Madagascar. And now, he appears like a gamer who might end up being a crucial one for Nigeria in future. Sadly, he will not get involved in this tie.

Christoph Lang vs Liverpool’s protective line

If LASK have a gamer efficient in destructive Liverpool on the night, it is Christoph Lang. The Austrian forward has actually remained in impressive kind in the early weeks of the season– 5 objectives from 8 looks, balancing 0.82 per 90 minutes– and his timing of runs in behind a protective line makes him a trustworthy hazard even at this level. He will aim to make use of the area behind Virgil van Dijk and Benoît Jacquet as LASK shift rapidly from defence.

Van Dijk brings the type of positional reading that nullifies numerous forwards before they can get the ball, while Jacquet supplies rate and healing along with him. Liverpool have actually been captured out on the counter at minutes this season, and Lang’s motion is specifically the type of obstacle that evaluates protective concentration. Keeping him peaceful for 90 minutes is among the Reds’ more vital jobs on the night.

LASK will lack Moses Usor, the Super Eagles winger who scored on his Nigeria launching versus Madagascar in September’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo. Supervisor Klaus Kuhbauer validated Usor has actually been eliminated with a muscle injury and is “most likely not a choice” for the match. Fellow winger George Bello is likewise missing, while Bence Jorgensen and Marko Horvath bring doubts into the matchday team.

Anticipated XI (3-4-3): Jungwirth; Andrade, Mbuyamba, Alemao; Jorgensen, Ljubicic, Bogarde, Dibango; Adeniran, Lang, Horvath.

Liverpool will lack Federico Chiesa, who was left out from the club’s Champions League team registration for this project. Ryan Gravenberch is qualified and anticipated to partner Alexis Mac Allister in a double pivot, with Florian Wirtz running as the innovative center behind the forwards.

Gakpo’s ankle issue is the crucial choice call– if he is healthy, Ngumoha is most likely to start from the bench; if not, the child is a strong prospect to begin broad. Alexander Isak brings a small knock however is anticipated to be offered.

Forecasted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Araújo, Jacquet, van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Muñoz, Wirtz, Barcola; Koumas

The Verdict

LASK 1-3 Liverpool

Analysis

Liverpool have actually won 19 of their 22 Champions League matches and have actually never ever ended a video game goalless throughout 82 looks in the competitors. LASK bring a nine-game losing streak in the UCL into this component, and their current kind in all competitors provides little factor to think they can end it here. Christoph Lang offers authentic goalscoring risk, and Liverpool’s desire to yield in shift might permit the Austrian forward a couple of chances– however the space in quality in between these sides, enhanced throughout 2 Europa League conferences in 2023, is large enough to anticipate a clear Reds success in Linz.