Linz: Bradley Barcola scored his first goals for Liverpool in emphatic fashion, netting a hat-trick as the Reds stormed to a 6-3 Champions League win over LASK at the Raiffeisen Arena in Austria on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. The result kept Liverpool's perfect European record intact after their opening victory over Atletico Madrid.
Barcola struck in the 24th, 37th and 66th minutes in his seventh appearance since a £123 million ($161 million) summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain — a landmark night for a signing who had faced criticism for underwhelming early displays. Liverpool's other goals came from Ronald Araujo's header in the 22nd minute, Jeremie Frimpong in the 51st and Lewis Koumas in the 72nd.
Rotation gamble pays off
Manager Andoni Iraola rotated heavily with six matches crammed into 18 days, resting Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, while injuries to Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai pushed Barcola and Florian Wirtz into leading roles. The gamble delivered — though the three goals conceded in the final stretch, through Robert Ljubicic in the 63rd minute and two Florian Flecker strikes in the 74th and 77th, will give Iraola something to think about.
The win was also timely relief after Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, Liverpool's first loss in eight matches under Iraola. Barcola, in particular, answered his manager's publicly stated faith in him with the most decisive performance of his Liverpool career so far.
Sources:
- LASK Vs Liverpool: Bradley Barcola Scores Hattrick As Reds Storm To 6-3 Champions League Win — News18
Barcola struck in the 24th, 37th and 66th minutes in his seventh appearance since a £123 million ($161 million) summer transfer from Paris Saint-Germain — a landmark night for a signing who had faced criticism for underwhelming early displays. Liverpool's other goals came from Ronald Araujo's header in the 22nd minute, Jeremie Frimpong in the 51st and Lewis Koumas in the 72nd.
Rotation gamble pays off
Manager Andoni Iraola rotated heavily with six matches crammed into 18 days, resting Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister and Victor Munoz, while injuries to Alexander Isak, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai pushed Barcola and Florian Wirtz into leading roles. The gamble delivered — though the three goals conceded in the final stretch, through Robert Ljubicic in the 63rd minute and two Florian Flecker strikes in the 74th and 77th, will give Iraola something to think about.
The win was also timely relief after Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Manchester City at Anfield, Liverpool's first loss in eight matches under Iraola. Barcola, in particular, answered his manager's publicly stated faith in him with the most decisive performance of his Liverpool career so far.
Sources:
- LASK Vs Liverpool: Bradley Barcola Scores Hattrick As Reds Storm To 6-3 Champions League Win — News18
