Bradley Barcola scored a superb hat-trick as Liverpool cruised to a 6-3 victory over LASK in a nine-goal Champions League thriller on Wednesday.
Andoni Iraola’s side took the lead in Austria through Ronald Araujo, who scored his first goal for the club with a header from Kostas Tsimikas’ corner.
Two minutes later, Barcola scored his first Liverpool goal since joining from Paris Saint-Germain for £123million in the summer.
Lewis Koumas set up the Frenchman after Rio Ngumoha produced a brilliant run down the right, with Barcola finishing superbly with his right foot.
Barcola, who had failed to register a goal or assist in his first six appearances, doubled his tally just before half-time after being played through by Florian Wirtz. Jeremie Frimpong then made it four after the break, heading home a Tsimikas cross.
LASK pulled one back through Robert Ljubicic, but Barcola completed his hat-trick just three minutes later, finishing off Frimpong’s delivery to the delight of Liverpool’s travelling supporters.
Koumas then got in on the act, with Frimpong providing another assist, before Florian Flecker scored twice in quick succession to restore some pride for the hosts and make it 6-3.
Iraola, who made four changes following Sunday’s defeat to Manchester City, including resting Virgil van Dijk, has now guided Liverpool to consecutive victories in the Champions League.
Reacting to Barcola’s first-ever Liverpool hat-trick, Iraola told TNT Sports: “I think he played so well today, not just with the goals but also with chances 1v1, when we got into the spaces in behind.
“I could feel it already yesterday in training. Sometimes you feel it when a player is in the zone, and fortunately for us he showed the level that he’s got.”
The former Bournemouth boss added: “I’m very happy with the performance. We were aggressive with the ball, good positionally, we moved the ball well and attacked the spaces well.
“Yes, we conceded those goals, but overall I think the performance of the defence was very good.” Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday before hosting Villarreal at Anfield next Tuesday.
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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 14, 2026
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