Europa League: Liverpool beats LASK 4-0 to progress

Liverpool have reached the last 16 of the Europa League as group winners with victory over LASK at Anfield.

Toulouse’s failure to beat Union St-Gilloise ensures Liverpool cannot be caught at the top of Group E.

The Reds go through to the knockouts and avoid February’s play-off round.

Liverpool had total control inside 15 minutes following a quickfire double.

First, Diaz sprayed a ball wide to Joe Gomez before running around the back of the defence into the area to meet the right-back’s cross and steer his header into the net.

Shortly after, a well-worked move between Diaz, Salah and Gakpo around the LASK box was finished from close range by the Dutchman.

Liverpool missed several first-half chances to put the game to bed, but had to wait until LASK keeper Tobias Lawal felled Gakpo in the area on 48 minutes, allowing Salah to slam in the third, with Gakpo adding a fourth following Trent Alexander-Arnold’s clever pass.

Liverpool show efficiency after Toulouse blip

It would have been a major shock had LASK, who have now failed to beat English sides in six meetings and have conceded at least two goals in every game, won at Anfield.

But it was a major shock when Toulouse, 15th in Ligue 1, beat Liverpool last time out, disrupting what had looked like a procession to the latter stages of the Europa League.

Perhaps stung by events in France, Liverpool began this match much livelier and got the job done.

Jurgen Klopp did make nine changes from the draw at Manchester City, but Salah was among the two who remained and this was hardly a Liverpool youth XI.

One player who came in was goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who looks set to start the next few games with Alisson sidelined. The Republic of Ireland international was reassuringly solid and made a number of good saves in a very open second half.

But although LASK – roared on by endlessly noisy away fans – did have their moments, they were overcome by the hosts’ sheer quality.