Barcola scores hat-trick as Liverpool thrash LASK

Key points

• Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat LASK 6-3 in the Champions League.
• Liverpool set a new record for first-half away shots in a Champions League game with 19.
• Head coach Andoni Iraola criticised his team's defending after they conceded three late goals.

Liverpool secured their second Champions League win by defeating LASK 6-3 in Austria. Bradley Barcola scored a hat-trick, his first goals since a £123m move from Paris Saint-Germain, and Florian Wirtz impressed after recent criticism.

Liverpool dominated the first half, recording 19 shots, a new record for an away team in the opening period of a Champions League match. Ronald Araujo headed in his first goal for the club before Barcola scored twice, the second from a Wirtz pass.

Second half and late drama

Jeremie Frimpong headed a fourth goal six minutes after the break. Andoni Iraola then brought on Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez at centre-back in the 62nd minute, and Liverpool conceded three times. Barcola completed his hat-trick from a Frimpong cross, and Lewis Koumas scored Liverpool's sixth after having two efforts ruled out for offside.

Florian Flecker scored twice in two minutes late on for LASK, exposing Liverpool's sloppy defending. The result left Iraola praising his attack but concerned about his defence.

Probably the reason why the manager shouldn't change both centre-backs, but we were already winning 4-0 and you have to think about the next game and saving the legs of the players.

— Andoni Iraola

What Iraola said

Iraola said Barcola "played so well today and not just the goals" and that Wirtz "was amazing in possession." He admitted his decision to change both centre-backs may have been a mistake, saying: "Probably the reason why the manager shouldn't change both centre-backs, but we were already winning 4-0."