Liverpool hammered six past Austrian side LASK in a nine-goal Champions League thriller.
LASK v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2
Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick in Linz (Image: Getty)
Liverpool scored six in a Champions League goalfest away at LASK as £123million summer signing Bradley Barcola bagged a classy hat-trick. Andoni Iraola made some surprising changes to his starting line-up in Austria, dropping captain Virgil van Dijk to the bench, but the six-time champions led 3-0 by the 37th minute courtesy of Ronald Araujo's header and a first-half Barcola brace. Jeremie Frimpong was the unlikeliest scorer of the night, leaping high to head home a fourth despite being just 5ft 7ins. While LASK denied Alisson Becker his clean sheet on the hour mark, Barcola secured his hat-trick three minutes later. But though Liverpool then made it 6-1 via Lewis Koumas' first goal for the club since February 2024, a quickfire Florian Flecker double made the scoreline less emphatic than it should have been. Express Sport rates and slates the Reds below after their 6-3 away win...
Liverpool player ratings
Good save to deny Krystof Danek on the hour mark and was raging after losing his clean sheet soon after. Wasn't happy about the other goals either but they were well struck to be fair.
One of his best Liverpool performances going forward and defied his small stature with a magnificent leap and header to score. Then supplied great crosses for his two assists, for Barcola's third and Koumas' goal. But marked down because he was caught out for LASK's second and third goals.
Headed wide from a corner early on but then headed Liverpool in front after 22 minutes from another corner. A solid showing at centre-back. Kept a clean sheet while on the pitch.
Started in Virgil van Dijk's left-sided position for the first time this season and looked just as good despite going up against the lively Samuel Adeniran. Kept a clean sheet while on the pitch. Fingers crossed he's not injured.
Some brilliant set-piece deliveries and clever passes down the line as he captained the team. Came away with two assists. But like Frimpong on the opposite side, guilty of poor positioning for LASK's third.
LASK v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2
Lewis Koumas enjoyed his first Liverpool goal since February 2024 (Image: Getty)
Cruelly denied a goal by the inside of the post on another positive performance after impressing against Manchester City until his contentious red card. Needed him to help offer more control after the subs, however.
Positive in possession and a mature display on his first ever Champions League start. Has got a big future for the club.
An absolute nightmare for the LASK defence. Superb run for the second goal and great link-up in the build-up to Barcola's hat-trick goal. The hosts just couldn't deal with him. Went off late on with cramp.
So much better from the German, who looked bright and eager to impact the game whenever he got the ball. A lovely assist for Barcola's second though did fade second half.
Full marks for the hat-trick hero. Brilliant finish to double the Liverpool lead and really enjoyed himself after that. Excellent touch and finish to make it 3-0 then a smart run for his third goal.
A stylish assist after lovely footwork before the first Barcola goal. Twice had well-taken goals taken away from him for offsides before eventually getting his goal from a Frimpong cross. A lovely finish through the keeper's legs.
Substitutes
Liverpool lost their clean sheet moments after he came on. Too slow out to close goalscorer Robert Ljubicic. Needed to marshal the defence better when LASK scored two more goals.
Was also at the scene of the crime for LASK's goal immediately after coming on, affording Ljubicic too much space. Like Van Dijk, Liverpool needed better from Gomez in the final half-hour.