Full Breakdown
Liverpool Rout LASK 6-3 as Barcola Nets First-Career Hat-Trick
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Liverpool travelled to the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, Austria, and secured a 6-3 victory over LASK in the Champions League group stage. The French forward Bradley Barcola opened his Liverpool account with a hat-trick, becoming the first player to score three goals for the club in a single Champions League match since Luis Diaz in 2022. Ronald Araújo headed the opening goal from a corner, and Jeremie Frimpong added a fourth with a header. Lewis Koumas, making his Champions League debut, also scored. LASK’s consolation came from Robert Ljubicic and a double by Florian Flecker.
Background & Context
The win came after Liverpool’s 3-0 Premier League loss to Manchester City, their first defeat under manager Andoni Iraola. The defeat left the side without its three leading scorers—Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai—who were sidelined with minor injuries. Iraola had previously expressed confidence in the club’s recent signings Florian Wirtz and Barcola, noting the need for them to step up in the absence of the injured forwards.
Key Performers
- Bradley Barcola – French winger, £123 million signing from Paris Saint-Germain; scored three goals, his first for Liverpool.
- Ronald Araújo – Uruguayan centre-back on loan from Barcelona; opened the scoring.
- Jeremie Frimpong – Liverpool full-back; contributed a header and an assist for Barcola’s third.
- Lewis Koumas – 21-year-old forward; netted his first Champions League goal.
- Florian Wirtz – German midfielder; provided the assist for Barcola’s second goal.
Data & Statistics
- Liverpool recorded 26 shots, matching the club’s record for an away Champions League game.
- Expected goals (xG): Liverpool 3.34, LASK 2.02.
- Possession: Liverpool 64 %, LASK 36 %.
- Pass accuracy: Liverpool 91 %, LASK 81 %.
- Liverpool’s 19 attempts in the first half were the most by an away side in a Champions League half since the 2003-04 season.
Official Statements & Responses
He added that the performance would boost Barcola’s confidence.
Liverpool’s coaching staff also noted the strategic rotation of the defence, with Virgil van Dijk starting on the bench and Jérémy Jacquet beginning the match.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Cody, Alex and Dom are our top scorers this season and now we don’t have them. We need other players to give us those numbers,” — Iraola. Photograph
- “A lot of what happened after we went down to 10 men was because we conceded straight away,” — Andoni Iraola, liverpool coach
What’s Next
Iraola indicated that Liverpool will travel to Brentford for their next Champions League fixture, with the squad expected to manage workloads ahead of that match.
*All figures and statements are drawn from match reports and post-game comments from the clubs and coaches.*
