LASK Linz v Liverpool
Play By Play
Liverpool claim their second win of the league phase as they run out 6-3 winners against LASK at the Raiffeisen Arena. It was an impressive showing from the visitors, especially in the final third, which saw Barcola bag his first three goals since joining the club from PSG in the summer. Araujo got Liverpool going on 22 minutes when he nodded home from Tsimikas' corner, before Barcola doubled the Reds' lead just 96 seconds later. The French forward then grabbed his second of the night after getting on the end of a lovely Wirtz pass to round off a superb first half for Liverpool. Iraola's men continued to dominate after the break, too, and scored a fourth when Tsimikas teed up Frimpong to head home on the 51-minute mark. LASK substitute Ljubicic then pulled one back for the hosts in the 63rd-minute, before Barcola completed his hat-trick from Frimpong's cross three minutes later. Koumas then made it six 72 minutes in after having two goals ruled out for offside earlier in the night. LASK refused to lie down, though, and pulled two more back late on through their substitute Flecker, who also scored against the Reds in the Europa League three years ago. LASK created 2.02 xG in total on the night, compared to the 3.34 put up by Liverpool. The hosts now look to a meeting with Austria Lustenau on Saturday, while Liverpool prepare to face Brentford in the Premier League on the same day. That's all for this one, thanks for joining us!
FULL-TIME: LASK 3-6 LIVERPOOL
LASK's Dibango is the first player to assist three goals in a Champions League game since Van Dijk for Liverpool in January, and the third to do so against a Premier League club after Jordi Alba in October 2018 (Barcelona vs Spurs) and Kevin De Bruyne in April 2019 (Man City vs Spurs). LASK will end up losing this, but it's been an impressive showing from the Cameroonian.
There will be THREE minutes of stoppage time...
Dibango looks to claim his FOURTH assist of the evening as he crosses from the left and finds the head of Alemao. He isn't able to keep the effort down, though, and the ball flies over the crossbar.
Liverpool have had nine shots on target tonight, six of which have found the back of the net.
The visitors also bring on Chambers, who replaces Ngumoha.
Liverpool make more changes, with Mac Allister first replacing Nyoni in midfield.
LASK threaten again as Andrade steals ahead of Ngumoha on the edge of the Liverpool box. The LASK skipper then slides an inviting ball across goal towards the back post, but there's no one waiting to tap it home for the hosts, and Liverpool have a goal-kick.
This is the highest-scoring European game for Liverpool since the 2001 UEFA Cup final vs Alaves, which they won 5-4.
LASK make another switch, as Kane comes on to replace Lang.
Tsimikas takes the resulting free-kick for Liverpool and finds the head of Munoz, who nods it across towards the back post, but Andrade remains alert to turn the ball behind. Tsimikas then takes a corner from the left, but they take it short and make a complete mess of things, and the chance passes them by.
LASK's Elfadli is shown a yellow card for an incredibly late challenge on Ngumoha just outside the LASK penalty area. Liverpool have a free-kick in a dangerous position...
The result isn't in doubt, but Iraola won't be happy with the Liverpool defending for LASK's three goals tonight. Incredibly sloppy from the visitors.
Dibango now has THREE assists as he picks out Flecker with a wonderful cross from the left.
FLECKER SCORES AGAIN!! IT'S 6-3!! Wow. LASK aren't lying down here and score a third as Dibango skips past Frimpong before crossing to Flecker, who finishes brilliantly with his right at the back post. It's awful defending from Liverpool, but LASK will take it!
Prior to LASK's second, Koumas (21 years, 25 days) became the youngest player to score and assist in a Champions League game for Liverpool, breaking the record of Steven Gerrard (21 years, 139 days vs Dynamo Kyiv in October 2001).
Dibango does well to keep his composure and lay the ball on a plate for Flecker to nod home from a few yards out.
LASK BAG ANOTHER!! Flecker repeats his heroics from 2023 to score against Liverpool again as he gets on the end of a tidy cross from Dibango. The chance comes from a lovely pass by Kalajdzic, which split the Liverpool defence in half and allowed Dibango to tee Flecker up for a tap-in. LASK 2-6 Liverpool!
Liverpool respond with another change as Munoz replaces the hat-trick hero Barcola.
Frimpong now has two assists and a goal as he tees up Koumas after winning possession back from Lang. The Dutch full-back is also enjoying one of his best performances in a Liverpool shirt.
KOUMASSSS!!! THERE'S THE SIXTH!! The young Liverpool forward has been phenomenal tonight and more than deserving of his goal as he fires the ball home from Frimpong's cross. It's a superb finish from Koumas, who's already had two goals chalked off for offside. LASK 1-6 Liverpool!
LASK's Schopf also makes way for Elfadli.
LASK make another change, with Kalajdzic replacing Adeniran.
BARCOLA ALMOST BAGS A FOURTH!! Liverpool open up the LASK defence again as Tsimikas feeds a lovely ball through to Barcola, who dinks it over the oncoming Jungwirth before Alemao sweeps across to turn the ball behind. LASK survive the resulting corner, but there are definitely more goals in this for the visitors before full-time.
