Liverpool badly needed a response after the disappointment against Manchester City, and Andoni Iraola’s side certainly delivered one in Austria.
A 6-3 Champions League victory over LASK gave Liverpool plenty to celebrate, with Bradley Barcola scoring his first goals for the club, completing a hat-trick and Lewis Koumas finally getting the goal his performance deserved.
Ronald Araújo and Jeremie Frimpong also found the net as Liverpool produced some excellent attacking football, particularly during a dominant first half.
But this was not entirely straightforward. After building a four-goal lead, Liverpool allowed LASK back into the game with three second-half goals of their own.
The result was excellent. The attacking display was encouraging. The defensive lapses, however, will give Iraola something to think about.
Liverpool take control after a lively start
Iraola made several changes for the trip to Austria, with Virgil van Dijk rested. Kostas Tsimikas captained the side, while academy talents Koumas and Rio Ngumoha were handed opportunities in attack.
Liverpool were not immediately comfortable. LASK showed some early ambition, and Kasper Jorgensen fired over after the hosts threatened from a corner.
Koumas had an opportunity of his own in the opening minutes, beating the offside trap and rounding the goalkeeper, but he was forced wide and could not find the finish.
Florian Wirtz then began to show his quality, cutting between defenders before forcing a save from LASK goalkeeper Jungwirth.
Liverpool were growing into the game, and the breakthrough arrived in the 22nd minute.
Tsimikas delivered a corner and Araújo rose powerfully to head Liverpool into the lead. The defender had already threatened from a set piece, and this time he made no mistake.
Two minutes later, Liverpool doubled their advantage.
Ngumoha did brilliantly down the byline, twisting and turning past his marker before the ball fell to Koumas. The Welsh forward showed good composure to turn away from his defender and lay the ball into Barcola’s path.
The Frenchman made no mistake, calmly finishing from close range to score his first goal for Liverpool.
That must have been a huge relief for Barcola, who had been waiting for his first goal since arriving at Anfield.
And he was only getting started.
Wirtz and Barcola combine for a third
Liverpool were now playing with real confidence.
Wirtz was finding pockets of space, Ngumoha was causing problems out wide and Koumas was working hard through the middle.
Ryan Gravenberch came close to adding a third when a superb Liverpool move ended with the Dutchman striking the base of the post.
Koumas then thought he had scored after a lovely turn and composed finish, only for the offside flag to deny him.
Liverpool did not have to wait long for another goal, though.
In the 37th minute, Wirtz produced a wonderful pass through the LASK defence. Barcola took the ball in his stride and fired low into the far corner.
Liverpool were 3-0 up, and Barcola had two goals to his name.
It was exactly the sort of performance Wirtz needed after the criticism that followed the Manchester City defeat. His vision and ability to unlock a defence were clear, while Barcola finally looked like the confident, dangerous forward Liverpool hoped they had signed.
Ngumoha also deserves credit for an excellent first-half display, while Koumas offered energy and movement through the middle.
Liverpool went into the break three goals ahead and firmly in control.
Frimpong adds a fourth — then Liverpool lose their way
Liverpool picked up where they left off after half-time.
Just six minutes into the second half, Tsimikas got forward and delivered a cross towards the back post. Frimpong timed his jump superbly and powered a header down and into the net.
For a player whose place in the starting side has been under pressure, it was a valuable moment.
At 4-0, Liverpool looked set for a comfortable evening.
But football can change quickly, and Liverpool’s concentration began to slip.
LASK had already threatened through Adeniran, and Alisson was forced into an excellent save to deny Danek shortly before the hosts finally scored.
In the 63rd minute, substitute Robert Ljubicic found space inside the penalty area and beat Alisson at the near post.
It was a disappointing goal to concede, particularly with Liverpool having looked so comfortable.
Thankfully, Barcola had no intention of letting the hosts spoil his night.
Barcola completes his hat-trick
Three minutes after LASK pulled one back, Liverpool restored their four-goal advantage.
Ngumoha played a brilliant ball inside the LASK defence for Frimpong, who raced forward before cutting the ball back across the box.
Barcola was waiting at the far post and had the simple task of tapping into an open goal.
Hat-trick. First Liverpool goals. A night to remember.
After the difficult start to his Liverpool career, this was precisely the kind of performance Barcola needed.
It would be wrong to suggest that one match suddenly solves every problem, especially against opposition Liverpool were expected to beat. But confidence matters, and scoring three times should give the Frenchman a real lift.
Liverpool were now 5-1 ahead, and the contest should have been settled.
Instead, the defensive problems continued.
Koumas finally gets the goal he deserves
Koumas had already seen two efforts ruled out for offside, but he refused to stop making runs behind the LASK defence.
In the 72nd minute, he finally got his reward.
Frimpong, who was having an excellent evening going forward, delivered a low cross into the area. Koumas took his finish early, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and making it 6-1.
The celebrations said everything.
The young Welsh forward had worked tirelessly, created Barcola’s first goal and kept looking for opportunities even after his earlier efforts were ruled out.
For a Liverpool academy player trying to establish himself in the first team, this was a significant moment.
Iraola had trusted him to lead the attack in a Champions League match, and Koumas responded with a goal and a performance full of energy.
He will know that one game does not guarantee a regular place, but he has certainly given his manager something to consider.
LASK score twice more to make it uncomfortable
Unfortunately, Liverpool were not finished giving their supporters a few nervous moments.
LASK scored again in the 74th minute when Florian Flecker arrived at the far post to meet a cross from Yvan Dibango with a diving header.
Three minutes later, Flecker struck again, finishing another Dibango delivery across goal to make it 6-3.
Liverpool’s four-goal cushion had been cut to three, and the closing stages became far less comfortable than they should have been.
There was no serious danger of Liverpool throwing away the victory, but conceding three goals after being so dominant is not something Iraola will want to see repeated.
The attacking quality was obvious. The defensive concentration was not always there.
Liverpool need to learn to manage games better when they have established such a commanding lead.
My verdict: a brilliant response, but not a perfect night
There is plenty for Liverpool supporters to enjoy here.
Barcola finally has his first Liverpool goals, and he has gone straight from waiting for his breakthrough to scoring a hat-trick.
Wirtz looked creative and dangerous, providing the kind of pass that makes you understand why Liverpool invested so heavily in him.
Ngumoha was lively, Koumas deserved his goal, and Frimpong contributed a goal and an assist. Araújo also made his mark with a powerful header.
Those are some significant positives, especially after the disappointment of the Manchester City defeat.
But I do not want to ignore the three goals Liverpool conceded. The scoreline looks fantastic, yet the defensive performance after the fourth goal was nowhere near the standard Iraola will demand.
The manager rotated his team and gave young players an opportunity, and several of them took it. That is encouraging. The next step is making sure the whole side can maintain its discipline when the game appears to be won.
Liverpool needed a response, and they got one.
Barcola has his confidence-boosting hat-trick. Koumas has made a strong case for more opportunities. Wirtz has shown flashes of the creativity Liverpool have been waiting to see.
There is plenty to build on.
Now Liverpool need to take that attacking confidence into their next match without bringing the defensive mistakes with them.
Six goals away from home in Europe is an excellent night’s work. Conceding three is the reminder that there is still work to do.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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