Liverpool produced a high-scoring masterclass in Austria on Wednesday night, thrashing LASK Linz 6-3 in their second UEFA Champions League league-phase match of the 2026/27 season.
Bradley Barcola stole the show with his first Champions League hat-trick, while goals from Ronald Araujo, Jeremie Frimpong and Lewis Koumas completed a dominant performance at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz,
Blistering first-half start
The Reds made a strong start after a relatively quiet opening. On-loan Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araujo broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute with a powerful header. Just 95 seconds later, Barcola made it 2-0, and the French forward doubled his tally before half-time to put Liverpool 3-0 up at the break.
Second-half domination and late drama
The second half continued in the same vein. Six minutes after the restart, full-back Jeremie Frimpong headed home a Kostas Tsimikas cross for 4-0. LASK pulled one back through substitute Robert Ljubicic in the 63rd minute, but Barcola completed his hat-trick three minutes later. Lewis Koumas then scored his first Champions League goal in the 72nd minute to make it 6-1.
The Austrian side refused to surrender. Substitute Florian Flecker scored twice late on (74th and 77th minutes) to reduce the deficit to 6-3, exposing some late defensive lapses from the visitors. The result, however, was never seriously in doubt.
Barcola stars as Liverpool stay perfect
Barcola's clinical finishing was the standout feature of the night. The former PSG forward had faced some early-season scrutiny but responded emphatically, with one of his goals coming from a fine assist by Florian Wirtz. Frimpong's headed goal and attacking contributions from the full-backs (including assists from Tsimikas) added further quality to an entertaining display.
The victory leaves Liverpool with a perfect record of two wins from two in the Champions League league phase (six points), while LASK remain without a point after two matches. The result also provided a strong response after a tough Premier League outing at the weekend.
It was an open, free-scoring affair that showcased Liverpool's attacking depth even with a rotated side. While the late concessions will give manager Andoni Iraola something to address defensively, the focus remains firmly on Barcola's breakthrough night and a comprehensive away win on the road in Europe.