Manager Breaks Record with 50th European Victory Despite Challenging Start

Jürgen Klopp led Liverpool to a hard-fought 3-1 victory over LASK in Austria, marking his 50th European win as the club’s manager. This milestone surpasses the previous record held by Rafael Benítez, although Klopp chose to downplay the significance of the achievement. The victory, secured by goals from Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, and Mohamed Salah, was a testament to the team’s resilience as they came from behind for the fourth time in six games.

After a sluggish and disjointed start, Liverpool found themselves 1-0 down following Florian Flecker’s impressive strike from a set-piece. Klopp, who made 11 changes to the starting lineup from their weekend win over Wolves, admitted that the early goal left his side struggling for confidence. Despite moments of quality, the team seemed unable to build on them, allowing frustration to set in.

At half-time, Klopp reassured his players by pointing out their positive moments from the first half, which they had overlooked in their frustration. In the second half, Liverpool improved, and eventually, their persistence paid off with a well-deserved victory. Klopp acknowledged the difficulty of the match, emphasising that success in the Europa League will require determination and hard work, particularly in the group stage and knockout rounds.

Reflecting on the result, Klopp noted the importance of digging in and showing mental strength throughout the competition. Despite the high expectations surrounding Liverpool, he warned that the road ahead in Europe would not be without challenges.