Key events
Elsewhere in the Champions League this evening, the 8pm BST kick-offs are just a few minutes away and we are liveblogging Manchester City v PSG:
Here’s a bit of background reading for that one:
Just one other early kick-off in the Champions League: Feyenoord have beaten Como 3-2, with an own goal from Robert Sanchez, on loan at Como from Chelsea, proving decisive for the Dutch side.
Two wins from two, then, for Liverpool in the Champions League. Next up for the Reds in Europe? Villarreal at home next Tuesday, just three days after a gruelling trip to Brentford this Saturday in the Premier League.
The headline news is undoubtedly Bradley Barcola’s hat-trick, a career first for the Frenchman. Having not registered a goal or an assist in his first six matches, Barcola was at times unplayable here. Amazing what a bit of confidence can do.
Full-time: Lask 3-6 Liverpool
After nine goals in Austria, there are three deserved points for Liverpool. The visitors’ highest-scoring European game since the 2001 Uefa Cup final against Alavés.
90+2 min: After a brilliant first half, Wirtz has faded somewhat in this second half. Still at least a 7/10 performance from the German. No L’ Équipe ratings around here.
90 min: Three minutes added on here.
89 min: The tempo has gone out of the game since those substitutions. Lask will be thrilled with their second-half showing.
87 min: A couple of you seem concerned that I am referring to the hosts as Lask, rather than LASK. “LASK is an acronym,” emails David Howell. “Officially for Linzer Athletik-Sport-Klub, but apparently also for Limited Austrians Stopped Komfortably.”
I assure you that capping down Lask is merely a Guardian style thing. We do that for Fifa (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) and Cas (Court of Arbitration for Sport).
85 min: A couple of substitutions to keep you updated with: Munoz came on for Barcola a few minutes ago and Iraola makes another double change with Mac Allister and Chambers replacing Nyoni and Ngumoha. The latter had cramp.
83 min: Good spell of possession here for Lask, who press forward with intent looking for a fourth goal. Andrade picks the pocket of Ngumoha and flashes a dangerous cross-shot across Liverpool’s six-yard box. For once, Flecker is not there to turn it home for Lask.
81 min: Will be an interesting journey home for Iraola, who will be concerned at the manner of this mini-collapse in the second half. Ultimately it should be a comprehensive away victory in the Champions League, but there is definitely concern defensively, particularly since Van Dijk and Gomez came on just after the hour mark.
79 min: “I realise Liverpool are playing Champions League minnows but, apart from my pleasure at the performance after the dismal showing against City, I’m delighted for the young striker Lewis Koumas who thoroughly deserved his goal,” emails Colum Fordham. “He played with energy on Sunday too. Nice to see a young academy player holding his own alongside the ‘stars’.”
GOAL! Lask 3-6 Liverpool (Flecker 77)
Oh my word! Lask score again in almost identical circumstances to their second goal. As a left-back, Dibango may have conceded six goals but he registers his third assist of the match, crossing again for Flecker. The substitute tucks a wonderful first-time finish back across goal, right into the corner. No chance for Alisson. Game on? Surely not.
GOAL! Lask 2-6 Liverpool (Flecker 74)
Iraola will be fuming! Frimpong has been brilliant going forward but is caught out defensively as Dibango gets in behind the Dutchman and dinks a cross to the back post, where Flecker times his run to perfection, planting a diving header into the net!
GOAL! Lask 1-6 Liverpool (Koumas 72)
Koumas gets his goal, finally, after two disallowed efforts! The youngster has again been full of running and deserves the adulation of the travelling Liverpool fans, who give their academy product an extra special roar. Frimpong is again excellent going forward, finding Koumas with a low cross and the Welshman takes his finish early to wrongfoot Jungwirth. A smile as wide as the Danube.
70 min: Lask make a double change: Schopf and Adeniran off for Elfadli and Kalajdzic, the latter formerly of Wolves, a 6ft7in striker.
68 min: Maybe this is all Barcola needed, a game to boost his confidence. Well, consider it boosted. The Frenchman goes in search of his fourth goal and races onto another through ball, dinking the ball over Jungwirth but not beyond the retreating defender Mbuyamba (who came through the academy ranks at Barcelona and Chelsea, by the way).
GOAL! Lask 1-5 Liverpool (Barcola hat-trick, 66)
Barcola scores his first career hat-trick! Goals do not come easier than this, as Ngumoha slips a wondrous ball inside the Lask full back for Frimpong to canter onto, and the Dutchman cuts the ball back to Barcola at the back post, who has the simple task of tapping it into an open goal.
GOAL! Lask 1-4 Liverpool (Ljubicic 63)
Ljubicic scores with his second touch! Liverpool are all at seas defensively, as Dibango squares to Ljubicic. On the six-yard box, the substitute has time to take a touch and swivel, beating Alisson at the near post! The Brazilian keeper is fuming to lose his clean sheet!
62 min: Liverpool make a double change, replacing both centre backs. It’s a little strange (and unnecessary?!) to bring on Van Dijk when Liverpool are 4-0 up but on comes the Dutchman, along with Gomez. Jacquet and Araujo off.
For Lask, Ljubicic comes on for Bogarde.
61 min: Danek forces Alisson into an excellent save! The Czech international cuts in on that left foot and whips a shot to the near post, but Alisson – off balance – somehow springs to his left and gets a big palm to it.
60 min: Adeniran remains a nuisance for Liverpool’s defenders and always is willing to stretch the play and run in behind. Jacquet in particular has struggled with the 6ft4in Texas-born striker.
58 min: Fair play to Lask’s supporters. Their side has been completely outplayed but the Austrian supporters have never lost their voice.
56 min: A word for the teenage Trey Nyoni, who has by no means been Liverpool’s best player in central midfield, but has looked completely at ease in the Champions League. Keeps it simple and has excellent positioning.
Koumas (again) has a goal disallowed!
54 min: Liverpool denied a fifth goal as Koumas is again (correctly) judged to be offside. Once again, it’s a pinpoint pass from Wirtz to slice open the Lask defence. Once again, Koumas takes the through ball on the move and perfectly into his path, before curling a shot past Jungwirth. But the Welsh international is offside.
GOAL! Lask 0-4 Liverpool (Frimpong 51)
You have to say this is a sensational header from 5ft7in Frimpong! Tsimikas shows great energy to underlap Barcola and receives the ball on the byline before standing up a cross to the back post. Tsimikas has no pace on it, but Frimpong leaps like a salmon and crashes a header downwards from eight yards out. Frimpong’s effort kisses the post and goes in! Frimpong looks absolutely delighted, as well he might.
49 min: Chance for Lask! Not for the first time, Adeniran gets by Jacquet and after a couple of half-clearances from Liverpool, a bouncing ball falls to Lang, who snatches at a shot, which squirts just wide!
47 min: “Your post at 41 minutes got me thinking, what does Opta say? According to their club rankings, Liverpool are sixth, Lask rank 143, while the ‘larger Glasgow club’ comes in at 178. Does this mean anything? I don’t know, I just like looking stuff up.”
Peeeeeeep!
We’re underway again in Austria. Lask make one change: a right-wing back Jorgensen off for Flecker, who is a right winger by trade. Perhaps that means a change in formation, to 4-4-2?
Half-time reading:
Our Manchester City v PSG liveblog is, um, live. Scott Murray will have the team news in there as soon as they drop.
Got a minute to spare? Why not try our daily Premier League trivia game, On the ball? Every day a star player past or present is hidden behind nine clues. How many will you need to identify them? It’s available in the Guardian apps.
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Today’s one is tricky, I should warn you.
Half-time: Lask 0-3 Liverpool
The visitors are utterly dominant.
45 min: One minute added on here.
