Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola
Bradley Barcola made a personal history on Wednesday with a hat-trick in Liverpool’s 6-3 win over LASK Linz in the Champions League. The treble also brought the Frenchman his first goals for the club.
The result gave Andoni Iraola’s side back-to-back wins in the competition. They had been beaten by Manchester City at the weekend and needed a response in Linz.
They had it within 22 minutes. Ronald Araujo headed Liverpool in front for his first goal for the club since joining on loan from Barcelona.
Liverpool were without senior forwards Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike through injury. Lewis Koumas led the attack alongside Barcola and Rio Ngumoha.
Barcola scored his first Liverpool goal two minutes after Araujo’s opener, from a Koumas pass. His second arrived in the 37th minute, after Florian Wirtz threaded a pass through to him.
Liverpool led 3-0 at the break. Jeremie Frimpong headed in the fourth in the 51st minute from a Kostas Tsimikas assist.
Robert Ljubicic pulled one back for LASK in the 63rd minute, a minute after coming on as a substitute. Barcola then completed his hat-trick in the 66th minute, tapping in a low Frimpong cross at the far post.
The three goals relieved some pressure from the Frenchman since his big money move from Paris Saint Germain this summer.
It also created a piece of history for Barcola as it was his first senior hat-trick, on his 206th appearance. He is Liverpool’s first player to score a treble in any competition since Luis Diaz against Bayer Leverkusen in November 2024.
Koumas made it 6-1 in the 72nd minute with a close-range finish from another Frimpong delivery. He had two earlier efforts ruled out for offside.
LASK substitute Florian Flecker then scored twice in quick succession. The goals exposed sloppy Liverpool defending after Iraola’s changes at the back.
Iraola praised Barcola’s overall display. He said the forward played well “and not just the goals”, and told him to enjoy the night because a Champions League hat-trick is always difficult.
Barcola’s goals ended a slow start to life at Anfield. Liverpool signed him from PSG in August on a five-year deal, for a reported £123m including add-ons.
Liverpool had 19 shots in the first half, the most by an away team in a Champions League half on record. The nine goals also made it their highest-scoring European match since the 5-4 UEFA Cup final win over Alaves in 2001.
Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday, with a 3pm kick-off. They then host Villarreal in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.
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