Bradley Barcola was the centerpiece of a commanding Liverpool performance in Linz, scoring three times as Andoni Iraola’s side put six past LASK Linz to win 6-3 in the UEFA Champions League league stage. The visitors were out of sight by half-time, leading 3-0, and though LASK mounted a spirited push in the final 20 minutes through Flecker’s brace, Liverpool had already done the damage. Frimpong, operating from right back, finished the night with a goal and two assists, matching Barcola as the engine of the Reds’ attack.
Key Moments
- 22′, Araújo headed Liverpool in front, converting a delivery from Tsimikas to give the visitors an early foothold.
- 24′, Barcola doubled the lead almost immediately, finishing after a pass from Koumas to make it 2-0 inside 25 minutes.
- 37′, Barcola added his second before the break, this time set up by Wirtz, putting Liverpool 3-0 up at the interval.
- 51′, Frimpong converted early in the second half, assisted by Tsimikas, extending the lead to 4-0 and effectively ending the contest.
- 63′, Ljubicic pulled one back for LASK shortly after coming on as a substitute, with Dibango providing the assist to make it 4-1.
- 66′, Barcola completed his hat-trick, tapping in after a pass from Frimpong to restore Liverpool’s four-goal cushion at 5-1.
- 72′, Koumas added a sixth, set up by Frimpong, giving Liverpool a 6-1 lead before LASK’s late consolations.
- 74′, Flecker, introduced at half-time, scored twice in quick succession (74th and 77th minutes), both assisted by Dibango, to make the final scoreline 6-3.
Tactical Breakdown
Liverpool controlled this match from the opening exchanges. Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 generated 64% possession and produced 26 shots, with 20 of those from inside the box. An expected goals figure of 3.36 reflects a performance where chances were created with regularity, and the front line converted at a clinical rate. Tsimikas and Frimpong pushed high from both flanks, supplying two assists each, and the combination play between Barcola, Wirtz and Koumas repeatedly cut through LASK’s 5-4-1 defensive block.
The tactical turning point came before half-time, when LASK withdrew Jørgensen for Flecker at the interval, looking to add attacking impetus. Ironically, it was a Liverpool substitution that shaped the second half: removing Barcola in the 73rd minute once the hat-trick was complete, with Koumas already on the scoresheet and Frimpong still driving forward, meant the visitors could rotate without any drop in fluency. Flecker’s two late goals gave the scoreline a more respectable look but came with the game long settled.
LASK’s primary problem was structural. Their backline of five offered no pressing threat, allowing Liverpool’s midfield to recycle possession at will. Dibango stood out as the hosts’ best player, ending the night with three assists, all in the second half, but his creativity arrived too late and with too little support around him. The home side’s xG of 2.06 shows they did create, but much of that came after Liverpool’s intensity dropped with the game won.
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Verdict
Liverpool pick up six points from their opening two UEFA Champions League league stage matches, with a goal difference that underlines their quality at this level. For LASK, two defeats and no points from their first two games leaves them in a difficult position early in the campaign. With Barcola, Frimpong and Koumas all contributing in this fashion, Iraola’s side look capable of competing at the top of the table as the league stage develops.