Tsimikas takes Liverpool captaincy as Van Dijk drops to bench against LASK

Kostas Tsimikas will captain Liverpool against LASK, while Virgil van Dijk is among four players dropped from the starting XI for the Champions League match in Austria. Liverpool confirmed the changes, with Trey Nyoni and Rio Ngumoha also coming into the side.

Jeremie Frimpong completes the four players coming in. Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz join Van Dijk among those making way. Van Dijk is listed among Liverpool’s substitutes.

The starting XI is Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong, Ronald Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Lewis Koumas. Araujo and Jacquet are set to form the centre-back pairing, as reported by ReadLiverpoolFC.

Nyoni’s selection brings a personal milestone: ReadLiverpoolFC reports this is his first Champions League start. Ngumoha also gets a place in the starting side, while Tsimikas takes the armband with Van Dijk on the bench.

The selection follows Liverpool’s Premier League defeat to Manchester City, which ReadLiverpoolFC reported ahead of the trip. Liverpool are ninth in the league after six games, with nine points. The changes give several players an opportunity to start in Europe, while the captaincy passes to Tsimikas for this fixture.

Liverpool’s next league match is away to Brentford on Saturday, October 17, at 15:00 BST. For now, the immediate task is the Champions League meeting with LASK, with four changes shaping the team that takes the field in Austria.