Via echo
Some 2,682 days since the desperate disappointment of Basel, Jurgen Klopp returns to where it more or less started for him at Liverpool.
Klopp’s first home game in charge was a Europa League group match against Rubin Kazan
Since then, the progress has been sizeable, with the occasional setback brushed aside as Liverpool emerged as the only team to seriously threaten moneybags City’s increasingly weary domination
That, though, was until last season, when the significant blow of missing out on Champions League qualification
The impressive start to the Premier League campaign suggests the labour undertaken in the summer – more than £150million was spent – is already being rewarded
it says much about the strength in depth at present that Klopp can still field a strong team this evening despite wholesale changes being expected
Certainly, Liverpool are in a much better place than when they last lined up in the competition.
Klopp
"My first year, I thought the Europa League was a bit too much for us until we got to the final.
"We had to fly to Russia, played on a frozen pitch in Sion. I hope it won’t be like that, to be honest! Trying to become a team somehow and the results helped obviously.
"That was a different squad, we were not ready, and we came through somehow. I don't think we were exceptional until the quarter-final, semi-final when we played outstandingly well. But I wouldn’t compare it.
"It is a different time, a different team. We are better prepared for he competition. That doesn’t mean we will go to the final. We enjoy it more to be here because we had no clue at that time what to expect."
Klopp will seek another landmark tonight when he aims to become the first Liverpool manager to earn 50 wins in Europe
It will be the biggest occasion yet for LASK’s new 19,080-capacity Raiffeisen Arena, which was opened in February
The Austrian side have lost only one of 10 games this season in all competitions and stand third in their domestic league behind Sturm Graz
Klopp
"I know we are favourites and you like to play the game big club v small club,"
"But we are here to play football and take this game seriously. We want to take the most of it.
"The stadium is wonderful, they opened it in February. We are not arrogant, we want to compete and win here.
LASK are very stable, have a clear idea of football. They use wingers very well, use free-kicks very well. It’s not easy and if you let them play then they’ll use their opportunity. I was also in this role when (as a team) you can't lose, so we have to be prepared.
"You have to be careful in everything. I saw their last three games. It will be a difficult game.
"What would I do if I were playing against Liverpool tomorrow? I would give everything so Liverpool would not enjoy to play against me.
"We have to be as motivated as they are and we are excited to play in the Europa League. I didn't watch the Champions League yesterday, I didn't miss the anthem. We deserve the Europa League like LASK do."
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