LASK Linz vs Liverpool Prediction and Tips: Handicap

Liverpool's momentum against LASK's lost home form

Liverpool have barely broken stride since the season kicked off: a 2-0 away win at Ipswich, a 2-1 home win over Atlético Madrid in their Champions League opener, a 0-0 draw with Fulham, a 3-1 Carabao Cup win over Tottenham and a 1-0 away win at Bournemouth have left them unbeaten in five, scoring 8 and conceding just 2. They arrive at the Raiffeisen Arena with real momentum and, unlike most of continental Europe, without the near three-week gap in matches that LASK Linz have just had.

LASK Linz's own recent form is harder to read than usual, because all four of their matches before the international break were played away from home: a 3-1 win at Wolfsberger, a 0-1 defeat at AEK Athens in their own Champions League opener, a 1-2 defeat at Sturm Graz and a 3-3 draw at Hartberg. That is one win in four with seven goals conceded, and it leaves no recent evidence of how LASK's actual home form at the Raiffeisen Arena looks right now.

We could not confirm either side's starting line-up this far out — Liverpool in particular have a history of rotating for Champions League trips to less glamorous away days, and that risk is part of why we are not going bigger than a one-and-a-half-goal handicap. A straight away win is priced at 1.25, which does not represent enough extra value for the step down in risk compared with the handicap line.

At odds of 1.66, Liverpool -1.5 on the Asian handicap is the pick — needing Liverpool to win by two or more goals for the bet to pay out in full, with a one-goal win returning half the stake.

Form guide

Key numbers

• Liverpool record, last 5 (all competitions)W-W-D-W-W, 8 scored, 2 conceded
• LASK Linz record, last 4 (all played away)W-L-L-D, 7 conceded
• Current league positionLASK Linz 3rd Austrian Bundesliga (16 pts) vs Liverpool 6th Premier League (9 pts)

Team news

No confirmed team news was available for either side five days out from kick-off. Liverpool have a history of rotating for Champions League away trips against lower-ranked group opponents, which is reflected in the handicap line chosen here rather than a bigger one.

Verdict

At 1.66, Liverpool -1.5 implies a 60% chance of a two-goal-plus winning margin. Liverpool have won four of their last five by an average margin comfortably clear of two goals when they have won, against a LASK Linz side that has conceded seven goals in four games this season with no recent home fixture to judge their resistance by.