Darwin Nunez makes Liverpool point in front of watching FSG supremo

It wasn’t just the shirts that looked off colour for Liverpool.

For almost an hour here in Austria, Jurgen Klopp’s side appeared very much one that wanted to be anywhere but back in the Europa League. Unrecognisable in their new third kit of all-purple, their unfamiliar surrounds looked almost as alien as their line-up with the Reds boss, having said he wasn’t going to use the competition to give opportunities to fringe players, proceeding to make 11 changes.

But no matter who is stepping out for Liverpool this season, there is a resilient streak throughout this current squad that allowed them to turn what was threatening to be an embarrassing evening against LASK of Linz into a comfortable start to their European campaign.

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For the second time inside a week, Klopp’s side recovered from trailing after a poor first-half performance to earn a 3-1 triumph on the road, a fifth successive victory that extends their unbeaten run in all competitions to 17 games.

Ultimately, the gulf in quality and strength in depth of Liverpool – who were watched by chairman Tom Werner – proved the difference, along with superior fitness levels as Klopp celebrated becoming the first Reds manager to earn 50 victories in European competition.

The Liverpool boss had admitted before the game he didn’t know if his squad was capable of challenging on two major fronts. And while much sterner tasks than LASK will await – although few atmospheres will be as vibrant as the packed Raiffeisen Arena – there is a sense Liverpool should be able to navigate their group with sensible use of personnel.

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