UCL: Barcola scores hat-trick as Liverpool cruise past LASK

Bradley Barcola netted a hat-trick as Liverpool comfortably defeated LASK in a Champions League match that saw nine goals. Andoni Iraola's side took the lead in the first half via Ronald Araujo's header following Kostas Tsimikas' corner. Two minutes later, Barcola scored his first goal for Liverpool after joining from PSG for a club-record £123 million.

Lewis Koumas set up Barcola, who finished with a perfect touch on his right foot. The Frenchman added another goal just before halftime after being played through by Florian Wirtz. Jeremie Frimpong put Liverpool three goals ahead with a header from Tsimikas' cross after the break. LASK reduced the deficit to one goal with a strike from Robert Ljubicic, but Barcola completed his hat-trick three minutes later off Frimpong's pass.

Lewis Koumas assisted Frimpong again, but Florian Flecker scored twice for LASK to make the final score 6-3 in favor of Liverpool. Iraola rested Virgil van Dijk in a different lineup from the previous match against Manchester City, securing his side's first two wins in the Champions League. Liverpool will face Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday and Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday.