Highlights: Nine goals, six for Liverpool, three for Barcola as LASK lose at home

Aadam Patel
Football reporterRaiffeisen Arena, Linz

Bradley Barcola scored a fine hat-trick as Liverpool eased past LASK in a Champions League game that had nine goals.

Andoni Iraola's side took a first-half lead in Austria, through Ronald Araujo's first goal for the club, when he headed in from Kostas Tsimikas' corner.

Two minutes later, Barcola scored his first Liverpool goal since joining from PSG for £123m in the summer.

Lewis Koumas teed up Barcola after Rio Ngumoha made a brilliant run down the right and the Frenchman finished wonderfully with his right-foot.

Barcola - who failed to score or assist in any of his first six games - scored another just before half-time after he was played through by Florian Wirtz, before Jeremie Frimpong made it four with a header from a Tsimikas cross after the break.

LASK pulled one back through Robert Ljubicic but three minutes later, Barcola completed his hat-trick when he got on the end of Frimpong's ball, much to the delight of Liverpool's travelling support.

Lewis Koumas then got in on the act as Frimpong got another assist but the home side restored some pride through two goals in quick succession from Florian Flecker to make it 6-3 on the night.

Iraola - who made four changes from Sunday's defeat at Manchester City, including resting Virgil van Dijk - has now seen his side win two out of two in the Champions League.

Liverpool travel to Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday before taking on Villarreal at Anfield next Tuesday.

Hat-trick hero: Barcola scores three as Liverpool hit six against LASK

Liverpool player ratings

Starting XI

Alisson: Didn't have a save to make in the first half but couldn't hold on to his clean sheet after the break, conceding three. 7

Jeremie Frimpong: Started at right-back and was brilliant. Scored a solid header to get Liverpool's fourth of the night and provided two assists. 8

Ronald Araujo: Moved to centre-back with Van Dijk rested and the Uruguayan scored his first Liverpool goal with a towering header to break the deadlock. 7

Jeremy Jacquet: Another fine performance from the young Frenchman. Liverpool didn't concede when he was on the pitch. 7

Kostas Tsimikas: Started the game as captain and got two assists in an impressive display that will do wonders for his confidence. 8

Trey Nyoni: Came into the starting 11 and was neat in possession and constantly looking forward with the ball. 7

Ryan Gravenberch: Unsurprisingly played the full game as he's suspended for Saturday and played a key part in allowing Liverpool to control the game. 7

Rio Ngumoha: Did really well down the right for Liverpool's second goal and was a handful for the LASK defence all evening. What a talent. 8

Florian Wirtz: Much better from the German. Nearly scored a lovely goal and got the assist for Barcola's second as the pair linked up brilliantly. Too good for LASK. 8

Bradley Barcola: A fine attacking performance and a memorable hat-trick to open his Liverpool account. The Frenchman was a joy to watch and could have easily scored more. 9

Lewis Koumas: Made his second start in a row and did exactly what was asked of him. Got an assist and a goal and that was no less than he deserved. 8

Subs:

Virgil van Dijk (on 62, Jacquet): 5

Joe Gomez (on 62, Araujo): 5

Victor Munoz (on 73, Barcola): 5

Alexis Mac Allister (on 85, Nyoni)

Luke Chambers (on 85, Ngumoha)

Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Kerkez, McConnell, Danns, Sonni-Lambie, Lucky.

Player of the match

B. Barcola
8.78
29 F. Flecker
5.98
10 R. Ljubičić
5.60
25 Y. Dibango
5.58
7 S. Adeniran
5.19
27 C. Lang
5.17
1 L. Jungwirth
5.13
20 K. Jørgensen
5.12
9 K. Daněk
5.11
11 S. Kalajdžić
5.10
45 N. Kane
5.07
6 M. Bogarde
5.05
4 X. Mbuyamba
5.04
16 A. Andrade
4.97
18 A. Schöpf
4.97
43 Alemão
4.93
23 Daniel Elfadli
4.89
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