Liverpool fought back from a goal down to claim a 3-1 triumph at LASK Linz on Thursday in their first appearance in the Europa League in eight seasons.
After trailing 1-0 at half-time to a fine strike from Florian Flecker, Luis Díaz helped inspire a second-half turnaround for Jurgen Klopp’s much-changed side in Austria.
The Colombian forward, one of 11 modifications to the Liverpool team that defeated Wolves 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday, first won a penalty after a foul by Philipp Ziereis.
Darwin Núñez converted from the spot to level the match in the 56th minute before Díaz got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes later when he smartly turned in a superb low cross by Ryan Gravenberch.
Gravenberch was making his full debut for the club following his summer signing from Bayern Munich, while Klopp also handed a first start in a Liverpool jersey to 17-year-old Scottish winger Ben Doak.
An injury forced Gravenberch to be taken off in the second half, but his replacement, Mohamed Salah, made the three points safe for the visitors in the 88th minute when he finished after impressive work by Núñez.
Liverpool were back in the Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time since Klopp’s inaugural season at Anfield after finishing a disappointing fifth in the Premier League last season and failing to qualify for the Champions League.
In the other Group E clash, last season’s quarter-finalists Union St.-Gilloise rescued a home 1-1 draw against Toulouse.
