(VIDEO) Mohamed Salah scores in win vs LASK and Liverpool get the best news

Liverpool fulfilled the first goal they had set themselves this season. When, at the end of the last Premier League, they failed to qualify for the Champions League 2023/24, it was clear that in the UEFA Europa League they could not fail. It is a tournament of lower quality (and therefore less difficulty), so The Reds, with all their stars, have the obligation to prove that they are better than most of their rivals.

And on Thursday they did just that. Against LASK of Austria at Anfield Road, they needed a win to secure their place in the next round of the tournament. Two points ahead of Toulouse FC and five ahead of Union Saint-Gilloise, they were close to achieving their objective. By winning, they had already secured at least second place in the Group E standings, which means playing in the round of 32. But they had an even bigger prize: taking advantage of the draw between their two rivals, they took the final lead and qualified for the round of 16.

For that they had to beat LASK at Anfield Road. The opener was scored by Luis Diaz after 12 minutes of the first half, with a header after a floated cross by Joseph Gomez. And moments later Cody Gakpo connected with an assist from Mohamed Salah and, very calmly inside the box, only had to push the ball in to double the lead.

After the break, things didn't change. Six minutes into the second half Mohamed Salah scored from the spot for the third and that allowed them to control the ball calmly, knowing that victory was assured. In stoppage time Gakpo netted again, with a strong right foot shot.

What's next?

Liverpool can now relax in the UEFA Europa League, as no matter what happens in their final game against Union Saint-Gilloise, they will remain group leaders. That will allow them to focus on the Premier League, where they are in third place in the standings behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Next Sunday they will face Fulham at Anfield Road.