Bradley Barcola scored his first goals since a £123 million ($163 million) move from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer to help the Reds to a 6-3 triumph in Austria on Wednesday
Andoni Iraola was not surprised by Bradley Barcola's brilliance
Andoni Iraola was not surprised by Bradley Barcola's brilliance(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola was far from shocked that hat-trick hero Bradley Barcola opened his Liverpool account in emphatic fashion during the thrashing of LASK.
Barcola netted his first goals following a £123 million ($163 million) switch from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, helping the Reds to a commanding 6-3 victory in Austria on Wednesday. Ronald Araujo, Jeremie Frimpong and promising young forward Lewis Koumas also got on the scoresheet in the most convincing win of Iraola's early tenure.
Florian Wirtz, who set up Barcola's second strike, also turned in an impressive showing in the Champions League as the pair repaid Iraola's very public vote of confidence ahead of kick-off.
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Barcola, however, was the undisputed star of the show, claiming his first career hat-trick to bring an end to a six-match barren run that had raised doubts about his big-money move.
Iraola said: "I'm really happy for Bradley, because you were asking me yesterday about him, not making the numbers, also Florian, and I think both of them today played really, really well.
"I think they made a difference. Bradley, apart from the hat-trick, I thought he was a threat, always when one-on-one, certainly in behind, and he helped us a lot to control the game, finding the pockets.
Barcola scored a hat-trick against LASK
Barcola scored a hat-trick against LASK(Image: Getty Images)
"I am happy for both of them, yes. I think for their confidence, for sure, it's very good.
"I think they feel now that we trust them a lot, but at the end, we enjoy a little bit playing in the Champions League away.
"I think it's going to be very good, very good for them."
Barcola's hat-trick marked the first of his professional career and represented the first occasion a Liverpool player had scored three goals away from home since Mohamed Salah netted a treble at Rangers during a 7-1 Champions League triumph in October 2022.
Iraola commented: "I think he has to enjoy this.
"To score a hat-trick in the Champions League is always very difficult.
"I think he looked, even just in training, you could feel he was very lively, and sometimes you feel these things (are going to happen).
"You never know how he is going to play the next day, but it wasn't a big surprise because we were feeling he was in a good place going into the game."