Barcola off the mark as Liverpool run riot in Austria
Winger Bradley Barcola scored his first Champions League hat-trick in a 6-3 victory against LASK. The performance served as a response to recent criticism regarding his form and contribution to the team.
Why it matters
High-profile player performance in elite European competitions significantly impacts club morale and market valuation.
Bradley Barcola responded to growing but premature scrutiny of his performances to score his first Champions League hat-trick in the 6-3 win over LASK in Austria.
On a night when Florian Wirtz, the team's only other fit £100million-plus player (€120m), looked more comfortable than he has done all season it was the winger who won this competition for the last two seasons with Paris St Germain who sparkled.
Questions had already started to be asked about the France international, probably more a reflection of the underwhelming start Andoni Iraola’s side have made, despite the £123m summer signing having played just six matches.
The 24-year-old provided the perfect riposte, scoring with either foot in the first half to open his account for the club against poor opponents making their debut among Europe’s elite.
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