Liverpool beat LASK Linz 6-3 in the Champions League

Liverpool won 6-3 away to LASK Linz in the UEFA Champions League on 14 October, in a match that kicked off at 17:45 UK time at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz. Ronald Araújo headed the opener at 22 minutes and Bradley Barcola followed at 24 and 37 minutes, so Liverpool reached the break with 3 goals and LASK Linz with 0. Robert Ljubicic and Florian Flecker, twice, pulled the home side back to 3 goals, but Liverpool finished with 6. Jeremie Frimpong contributed one goal and two assists for the visitors. Liverpool arrived in Linz with six points from their two previous Champions League matches, while LASK Linz had lost both of theirs and started the night on 0 points in the table.

What does the result mean for Liverpool in the Champions League table?

Liverpool arrived in Linz with six points from two Champions League matches, a total shared in the table by Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Aston Villa, Arsenal and Real Madrid. The 6-3 win builds on a record of two wins from two and keeps the pressure on the sides around them in the leading group.

LASK Linz began the night with 0 points and two defeats, level with Internazionale, FC Porto and Napoli at the other end of the table. A crowd of 18910 watched at the Raiffeisen Arena as the hosts fell to a Liverpool side that scored three goals in each half, while Florian Flecker's two late goals for LASK Linz were not enough to change the outcome.

Who scored the goals and when?

Ronald Araújo headed Liverpool in front at 22 minutes from a Kostas Tsimikas corner. Bradley Barcola struck at 24 minutes after a pass from Lewis Koumas and again at 37 minutes, set up by Florian Wirtz.

Jeremie Frimpong headed in at 51 minutes from a Tsimikas assist, Barcola scored again at 66 minutes from a Frimpong pass, and Koumas netted at 72 minutes, also set up by Frimpong. For LASK Linz, Robert Ljubicic scored at 63 minutes and Florian Flecker added a header at 74 minutes and a volley at 77 minutes.

How did the match statistics compare?

Liverpool had 64.2 per cent possession against 35.8 for LASK Linz. Liverpool had 26 shots, 9 of them on goal, while LASK Linz had 12 shots with 4 on goal. Liverpool won 11 corners and LASK Linz won 3.

Liverpool made 524 accurate passes from 576 passes in total, and LASK Linz made 251 from 310. LASK Linz committed 7 fouls and had 1 yellow card, while Liverpool committed 4 fouls. Liverpool had 6 offsides and LASK Linz had 3.

What was the recent form of both sides?

LASK Linz arrived on a mixed run: they lost 1-0 to AEK Athens, lost 2-1 to SK Sturm Graz, drew 3-3 with TSV Hartberg, beat First Vienna FC 1894 2-1 and lost 2-0 to Rapid Vienna most recently.

Liverpool beat Atlético de Madrid 2-1, drew 0-0 with Fulham, beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 and AFC Bournemouth 1-0, then lost 3-0 to Manchester City in their last match before Linz. Against that backdrop, the 6 goals Liverpool scored in Linz stood out.

What did the media report about the match?

According to Rousing The Kop, Liverpool defeated LASK 6-3 in an away Champions League fixture, with Kostas Tsimikas captaining the side and providing 2 assists. Yahoo Sports said Ronald Araújo's header was his debut Liverpool goal, and that Jeremie Frimpong contributed 1 goal and 2 assists.

Yahoo Sports also noted that Florian Flecker scored 2 late goals for the home side. Rousing The Kop added that Luke Chambers made his first appearance of the season and that Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez came on as second-half substitutes.

The numbers at Scorely

Data source: ESPN; calculation and table by Scorely.