Liverpool get their Europa League campaign up and running in Austria this evening and they’re clear favourites to go all the way despite the likelihood of Jurgen Klopp making a raft of changes.
Despite Klopp describing the match against LASK as “a super difficult game”, and refusing to provide specific details about the team he’ll be selecting, merely saying “we are here to compete” certainly gives the impression that there will be changes from what he perceives to be his strongest possible line-up.
Regardless of the exact make-up of the team, betting site bookmakers.tv have scoured the odds from multiple bookmakers and the Reds are clear favourites not just to secure three points tonight but to go all the way to the final in Dublin next May.
Liverpool are a best-priced 3/10 – which translates into a 77% chance – of securing the win against LASK, who finished third in last season’s Austrian Bundesliga, a distant 14 points behind champions RB Salzburg.
LASK are expected to be the weakest of Liverpool’s Europa League Group E opponents, although there is little indication that Coupe de France winners Toulouse or Union SG, the Belgian regular season runners-up, have enough quality to trouble the Reds either, over the course of the six group games.
Indeed, Liverpool are expected to brush aside all-comers on their march towards another European trophy, with Brighton, Roma and Villarreal thought to be the most likely rivals in the latter stages. Yes, there’ll be Champions League dropouts to add to the mix, but in reality it’s only the third placed team from the group containing PSG, Newcastle, Milan and Dortmund that would cause a significant shake-up to the betting.
Of more immediate concern are Sunday’s opponents West Ham, who have impressed early on with wins against both Chelsea and Brighton, but again betting sites feel it’ll be a positive afternoon, as Liverpool’s momentum continues to gradually gain pace.
Selected odds* according to bookmakers.tv:
Liverpool to beat both LASK and West Ham – 10/11
Liverpool to win the Europa League – 7/2
Liverpool to win the Premier League – 8/1
Liverpool to win the Premier League and Europa League – 40/1
Liverpool to lose to both LASK and West Ham – 66/1
*Odds correct at 12pm on 21st September 2023
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