LASK host Liverpool at the Raiffeisen Arena on October 14 in the Champions League, with both teams looking for a response to weekend defeats. Liverpool opened their league-phase campaign with a 2-1 home win over Atletico Madrid but arrive after losing 3-0 to Manchester City. LASK lost their opening league-phase fixture 1-0 at AEK Athens and were beaten 2-0 by SK Rapid on October 11. The visitors sit 14th in the Champions League rankings, while LASK are 27th. Liverpool have won both previous meetings between the sides, yet LASK’s record of goals at home in Europe suggests this fixture could be more competitive than the rankings alone imply.

LASK's Recent Form and Key Stats

LASK reached the Champions League league phase after a remarkable play-off turnaround against Celtic. A 3-0 defeat in the away first leg left them with considerable work to do, but they won the home leg 5-1 after extra time. That result remains a striking example of their ability to recover in front of their own supporters. Their league-phase opener at AEK Athens was less productive: LASK lost 1-0 and could not turn their qualification momentum into an opening victory.

Recent results give the home side another challenge to overcome. LASK have recorded one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five matches, averaging 1.2 goals scored and 1.8 conceded. Their 2-0 home loss to SK Rapid was their latest setback. Across their Champions League matches this season, their record stands at one win and two defeats, with averages of 1.3 goals scored and 1.7 conceded. Those figures underline the importance of improving at both ends against a Liverpool side that won its first league-phase game.

There is nevertheless a clear goals theme in LASK’s wider results. Their last 10 home matches have all featured over 1.5 total goals, as have 23 of their last 24 matches overall. At least one second-half goal has been scored in 20 of their last 21 fixtures. In European home games specifically, both teams have scored in eight of their last 10, although LASK have won only one of their last six. Ramiz Harakate, Art Smakaj and Cheikne Kebe are listed as missing for this match, adding to the demands on a team seeking its first league-phase points.

Liverpool's Recent Form and Key Stats

Liverpool began their Champions League campaign by beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home. They were quarter-finalists last season, but the immediate task is to rebound from Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City. Over their last five matches, the Reds have three wins, one draw and one loss, scoring an average of 1.2 goals and conceding 1.0 per game. That record offers a steadier picture than the most recent result, while still leaving them with a point to prove on this trip.

Travel has brought positive results for Liverpool this season, including wins in their last two away games at Ipswich Town and Bournemouth. Four of their last six away matches have seen both sides score, and Liverpool won three of those six fixtures. In the Champions League, they have gone 34 matches without a draw; their last 19 away matches in the competition have also produced no draws. At the same time, they have been behind at half-time in six of their last 10 away matches, a reminder that their trips have not always started smoothly.

Selection is another point to monitor after Dominic Szobozlai, Cody Gakpo and Alexander Isak all missed the Manchester City match. Their status for this fixture is not specified. Gravenbach, who was sent off on Sunday, is not ruled out of the LASK game by that dismissal. Liverpool have previous experience of winning this matchup: they beat LASK 3-1 away in 2023-24, and the most recent head-to-head result was a 4-0 Liverpool victory on November 30, 2023.

LASK vs Liverpool Match Analysis

The contrast in opening Champions League results favours Liverpool: they have three points from their win over Atletico Madrid, whereas LASK are trying to recover from defeat at AEK Athens. The head-to-head record also belongs to the visitors, who have won both meetings. For LASK, the key question is whether they can reproduce the attacking response they showed against Celtic rather than the lack of a goal that marked their league-phase opener and recent loss to SK Rapid.

The scoring patterns leave room for both teams to contribute. LASK’s long run of home matches with at least two total goals and their record of both sides scoring in eight of 10 home European fixtures point towards chances at each end. Liverpool’s away results provide a similar signal, with both teams finding the net in four of their last six trips. Those trends do not erase the warning signs for LASK, particularly their recent defeats and Liverpool’s two head-to-head wins. They do, however, make the home side’s scoring potential an important part of this LASK vs Liverpool preview.

After losing on the same weekend, neither side arrives on the back of a convincing final result before this Champions League meeting. Liverpool have the stronger opening league-phase result and the better recent five-match record, while LASK can draw encouragement from the goals in their home fixtures and their Celtic comeback. Whether the hosts can make those opportunities count against the Reds should shape the contest.

LASK vs Liverpool prediction from BetMines: Both Teams To Score (Yes) with 59% probability.