Luis Diaz headed Liverpool in front after 12 minutes Credit: AFP

It was his fifth goal of the season in all competitions Credit: AP

Cody Gakpo doubled the hosts’ advantage from close range Credit: EPA

Mo Salah made it three from the penalty spot Credit: Reuters

Salah takes his tally to 13 for the season Credit: Rex

Liverpool dominated LASK at Anfield in a straightforward Europa League clash

The fifth-highest scorer in Kop history has rarely had an easier night.

For by the time he tucked his spot kick away the Austrians from Linz had already been whirled towards certain defeat.

Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo each scored in the first 15 minutes and from that point on the only debate would be how many LASK would lose by.

Boss Jurgen Klopp had pitched the tie as a potential banana skin, pleading with his club’s fans to create a big night European atmosphere to help out.

He knew at the start of a physically demanding run of 11 games in 33 days he would have to rest the majority of his top players.

There was also the shock 3-2 away defeat to Toulouse early last month which meant that, technically, the Europa League favourites might still slip up.

And he did, indeed, make nine changes from the side that drew with Manchester City on Sunday.

Salah, however, wasn’t one of them, kept in as skipper as an insurance policy – just in case.

Mo Salah had five shots and scored one goal against LASK

Diaz was everywhere for the Reds on Thursday evening

But he could easily have been sat on the bench with his feet up like most of Klopp’s main stars.

For once Diaz and Gakpo had hit the net, progress was all but guaranteed while Klopp’s biggest fear, that his hard-worked side might have to play in the last-16 qualifiers, also proved groundless.

What was mainly a walk in the park began 12 minutes in with a fine opener, Diaz firing the ball across the box to Joe Gomez.

The defender re-paid the compliment and Diaz dived forward to head high into the net.

Gakpo plundered the second after another move that left the LASK players dizzy.

Diaz found Salah, who gave him the ball back and the Colombian, walking on air now following that release of his parents after the family’s kidnap nightmare, eased a pass sideways.

The Dutchman couldn’t miss from almost under the bar.

Liverpool dominated large periods of the game

Kostas Tsimikas smashed a shot against the bar as uptight Klopp unwound before Salah’s 10th home goal of the season.

Keeper Tobias Walwal caught Gakpo’s ankle and Salah slotted with contemptuous ease, before Gakpo added his second two minutes into stoppage time.