On night of mayhem for Liverpool, Barcola arrives in style

Bradley Barcola's form was the subject of pre-match questions before Liverpool faced LASK. The French forward's Champions League hat-trick was the perfect answer.

Bradley Barcola's hat-trick was just the fifth scored by a Liverpool player in an away match in the European Cup or Champions League

On the eve of Liverpool's meeting with LASK, manager Andoni Iraola was repeatedly asked about the fortunes of Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola.

Given their price tags, the pressure was on both to start delivering after stuttering starts to their individual campaigns. Iraola, as most managers would, stood by his players, insisting he trusted them "100%".

Iraola insisted the focus was on the collective rather than individual stats but there is no denying that when you spend such eye-watering sums - £116m on Wirtz and £123m on Barcola - you want those players to be match-winners.

Wirtz delivered a fine display in the Austrian city of Linz as Liverpool won 6-3, with an assist to show for his efforts.

Source: BBC Sport