Bradley Barcola celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal, completing his hat-trick during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between LASK and Liverpool FC, October 14, 2026
Bradley Barcola celebrates his first-ever hat-trick for Liverpool after scoring their fifth goal in their 6-3 Champions League success at LASK(Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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If Bradley Barcola felt the need to consult a medical professional to get his Liverpool career motoring this week, the doctor would almost certainly have ordered this Champions League trip to LASK.
The two clubs met in the Europa League three years ago but on the Austrian outfit's big night in the far more lucrative Champions League - their first-ever home game at this level - it was Barcola who led the way as Liverpool dismantled their hosts 6-3.
The France international had previously struggled to show even a glimpse of why he is a £123m player since his move from Paris Saint-Germain and was somewhat harshly caught in the slipstream that followed the waves of Florian Wirtz criticism after Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
But those frustrated by Wirtz's general Anfield career so far after 56 games, prior to kick-off, had undoubtedly also taken their swipe at Barcola because of his own lack of early output under Andoni Iraola.
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To some, it was an unfair analysis but it was entirely accurate to suggest the Reds were still waiting to see why the winger came with the reputation as a two-time Champions League-winning France international.
But this was a night to showcase at least a little bit of what he is all about as he secured his first ever Champions League hat-trick to put LASK to the sword in their own backyard.
Given this is their first foray into the European Cup, it would fair to describe the hosts as minnows and Barcola ensured they looked as much with a first-half brace and a third in the second period in what was a strange old game in the Raiffeisen Arena.
The former PSG star tucked home superbly after great work from Rio Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas for his first, before some excellent stuff from Wirtz put him through for the second.
And by the time Barcola dispatched Jeremie Frimpong's cross for 5-1 in the second half, it was clear it would be Liverpool's night.
LINZ, AUSTRIA - OCTOBER 14: Bradley Barcola of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal, completing his hat-trick during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between LASK and Liverpool FC at Oberösterreich Arena on October 14, 2026 in Linz, Austria. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Bradley Barcola celebrates his hat-trick in Liverpool's Champions League victory over LASK (Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
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Barcola, whose hat-trick was the club's first in the Champions League since Luis Diaz two years ago against Bayer Leverkusen, will certainly have more taxing assignments this season.
But three goals in what is now seven appearances have embroidered his Reds record considerably in these fledgling days. Suddenly, the bare statistics paint the picture of someone who has hit the ground at speed on Merseyside.
In truth, the game descended into chaos in the second half as LASK refused to accept their fate at 4-0 and then 5-1 but the damage had already been done.
A repeat of that remarkable comeback against Celtic, which got them to the Champions League in the first place, was never truly on the cards.
It was a fun watch for the neutral, though, and more importantly for Iraola, Barcola might just have given himself his Liverpool lift-off.
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